May Beginners OnStage feature:
What is involved in creating a magical, mythical world for 380 five to seven year olds? It is an important role with some harsh critics which can either make or break a production. We talk to Jennifer McKenzie, Head of Wardrobe at the CPCA, about creating costumes for the Beginners OnStage mid-year performance season Do You Believe in Magic?
Jennifer McKenzie has been Head of Wardrobe since 2006 and has created over 20,000 costumes during that time for performance seasons and international tours. It is a challenging job in which deadlines are paramount, but nothing has diminished Jennifer’s excitement when she receives a new brief from Director Robert Coates. “It is often a mixed feeling but excitement always triumphs over nerves,” says Jennifer.
Her brief for Do You Believe in Magic? was one of those moments. “The 150 costumes required for Do You Believe in Magic? are particularly inspiring as they use stories such as Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, The Haunted House, Sleeping Beauty, and Pinocchio. I knew in an instant this mythical, fantasy theme would lend itself to mid 18th century ball gowns, dragons, warlocks, velvet and brocades which I find exciting.”
“It is an interesting process creating costumes,” continues Jennifer. “It begins with a concept, and very quickly moves through the design, pattern, fabric, cutting and construction stages until you have a finished product. This can happen in as little time as one day but the more complex costumes can take days or weeks to create.
Beginners OnStage has a history of investing considerable time and effort into their costumes as the program recognises the important role the costume has for a young child. “Costumes help bring kids out of their shells and become their character. Kids really do feel special and transformed when they step into a costume,” says Jennifer.
Once Jennifer receives her brief she looks to the design and pattern, surrounding herself with pictures from books and the internet, trims such as lace, cords, and buttons, and fabric swatches. Jennifer has over 15 suppliers of fabric around Melbourne from small boutiques to wholesale fabric shops. Quantities needed and student sizes are also at hand at this stage. “I always work with the largest size first as patterns can be reduced,” she says.
Once the pattern is finalised an exact sample is provided to a manufacturer who is responsible for the cutting and sewing of costume sets.
Finished costumes return to head office where they are carefully labelled and hung in their appropriate area ready for transport to the Union Theatre. Finally hats and accessories are added to perfect the look.
“No one quite understands how much effort goes into a single costume,” says Jennifer. “But it feels especially worthwhile when you see children on stage in the moment and enjoying themselves.”
The Beginners OnStage performance season Do You Believe in Magic? will be held at the Union Theatre, Melbourne University, Parkville from 22-26 June.
To read the full version of the May Beginners OnStage News, please click here.
