Pitlochry Theatre Work Experience

Last month I spent a week in Pitlochry Festival Theatre in the wardrobe department. I absolutely loved it there, everyone was so kind and welcoming and I learnt a lot when I was there. During the summer Pitlochry have 6 shows going on at the same time, they start the season with the first 3 or 4 plays on and then open up the last 2/3 a few weeks later, meaning for the last month or so all six shows are up and running. The idea behind this is you can go to Pitlochry for a week’s holiday and see a different show every night.

When I arrived the final show, ‘Dr Angelus’, was about to open. I was so lucky with the week I went as I got to be involved in rehearsals, making of costumes, maintenance and dressing. I learnt how to use an over-locking machine while making a dress for the autumn play ‘Whisky Galore’ and was shown how a theatre is run behind the scenes – literally!

The first half of my week involved watching the last few rehearsals of ‘Dr Angelus’, watching the opening show, fixing broken costumes and making costumes. The second half of my week was making costumes, maintenance and dressing. Dressing is definitely a passion of mine; I love the backstage vibe and being on hand for quick changes, fixing things if something doesn’t go to plan. Everything went to plan of course but it was fun being at the ready if not!

I was lucky enough to go backstage for ‘Privates on Parade’ and ‘Trelawny of the Wells’ – both very different from each other so it was great to see the different costumes.

As I said I loved my work experience at Pitlochry Theatre and would recommend everyone get down and see a play there! The actors, sets and costumes are all fabulous and definitely worth going to see!

http://www.pitlochry.org.uk/


Dr Angelus





Privates on Parade





Trelawny of the Wells

Ballerina

Sadly my final film is too big a file for my blog but check it out on my tumblr :) -

http://rachellobban.tumblr.com/

Film...

So, I've never done any sort of filming before, but I absolutely loved doing it in this project!
Especially filming ballet movements.
I decided not to have any sound on my film as I wanted to concentrate on the movement of the ballerina and how my costume moved with her and against the wind.
I definitely want to learn more about film and would like to use it in future projects.

These are the 'tests' (sorry the quality isn't great - I'm new to uploading videos)

Photoshoot

Photos from the shoot yesterday!
It was so much fun doing this shoot and I am really pleased with how the photos turned out!
I was trying to get the fragile quality of the costume combined with the delicate, light movements and poses of the ballerina.

Fragile Structure

So I'm getting there with this costume - yay!
The bottom feathers are really floaty and fragile (which I love), and as you go up the dress to the bodice the feathers become more structured (but still have movement in them), to when its finished and you have the head/neck piece which is going to be completely structured.
I'm looking forward to filming the piece, and to see how it all moves together.
(apologies for the not great quality of photos)

Today I have been playing with fabric and making these delicate feathers - I'm really please with how they are turning out ... even if they do take a while to make :P ! They are really delicate and fine which is what I am wanting to achieve!

Fragility

my studio space - which I am looking froward to getting back to on Wednesday!





Lips - the lines and faded colour are fragile to me
Bleach - not only looks fragile and delicate, it is also 'breaking down' the paper and ink.






My project is still on swans but I am looking more at the feathers and ‘fragility’ side of them. I hope to breakdown fabric and see where it takes me. With only 2 weeks left and the past month spent doing work experience I admit I haven’t been on top of my drawings/ research but I have still been drawing lots of feathers when I can, and hope to take this into print and then ‘break down’ the fabric I create. Wish me luck ….