week 2 – Ruby's Placement Year

26th November 202411th December 2024

End of Week 2 (3/10/24) Continuing Princess of Monaco Gown Alterations and Week Takeaway’s

I found today a mixture of exciting, yet also challenging and frustrating. I ended up spending the whole day on the Princess of Monaco garment, as it had a lot more alterations than I realised and these were new to me, so it took me much longer. I really enjoyed problem solving and finding ways to resolve issues with the dress, however only working on one garment made me feel really inefficient and a bit inadequate. Toward the end of the day, I started levelling the hem. Helen had offered to do it, as it was fairly time consuming and challenging, but I wanted to learn and force myself out of my comfort zone. However, it did become very frustrating and tedious. I think doing it at the end of the day meant that my energy was low and my focus was waning. I am going to look back on it with fresh eyes on Monday. I also got my first pay check today, which felt incredibly rewarding. It feels exciting to feel like the work I’m doing is worth being paid for and that it is an ‘official’ ‘real’ job. I feel like although I am less experienced and of course on placement, this validates the work that I’m doing.

Hemming the Princess of Monaco gown and its finished bodice

End of Week Notes and Takeaways:

Was really insightful to sit in Stephen’s fitting – so fascinating to see a military jacket be built up from scratch, from its base all the way to having its embellishments and badges tacked into place. This was quite a magical way to watch a garment come to life before may eyes and it gave me a great admiration for tailoring.
Everybody in the company has been such a pleasure to work for. I have also been surprised by how much we have interacted with the dancers, who have made a lot of effort to introduce themselves and make conversation. I had made an unfair assumption that their may be a lot of big egos in the cast, however everyone has been really down to earth and lovely.
I have found watching the dancers in rehearsal incredibly inspiring. They push themselves to both the physical and emotional limit everyday and have trained for years to be in these shows. One of the dancers is blind, in one eye and it is so astonishing to watch him dance seemingly effortlessly in rehearsals.
Feeling like I would really like to specialise in dance costume and have fallen deeply in love with the ballet – the dancers are so motivating and push their bodies to the limit to the point that they are essentially breaking them every day – I find this is inspiring me to work harder and makes me want to design costumes that are beautiful and magical enough to do justice to the dancers
Entranced by the mysticism, fairytale and magic of the ballet
Incredibly exciting and surprising to have met Matthew Bourne and spoken to him about Swan Lake, over the years.
Was also really encouraged by the conversation I had with Lez about design – I would like to see if I could ask to shadow him, or to possibly look at my portfolio, however I am a bit intimidated by this and would want to ask Diane if she though it was okay to ask first.
Really exciting that the boys Swan legs came in this week, having all been tirelessly made Phil Reynolds and his team, since March. They were incredibly beautiful and delicate appearing (although they should last 200 shows) and it was really thrilling to see such an iconic costume in the studio, face to face.

26th November 202411th December 2024

Week 2 (2/10/24) ‘Princess of Monaco’ Dress Bodice Adjustment:

Today presented surprises in the alterations I was doing. I found that a job that appeared to be simple (moving fastenings to make a bodice smaller) was more complicated that I anticipated. When I moved them, an overhang was created so that the bottom of the bodice didn’t line up on both sides at the same height. I really liked working out how to resolve this. At first I was intimidated, however, on completing it to a standard that surprises me, it gave me a new found confidence. It ended up being much easier than I realised and has encouraged me to be more adventurous. I am realising that there is no right way to do things, rather there are many options of how you can do it, it’s just using the option that makes sense to you and/or is the most efficient. I feel really comfortable asking for help and advice on how to do things from the others, especially Amy (who I’m also on internship with) and Helen, who is a very skilled costume maker (as well as a bit of a work Mum to me and Amy). The team are incredibly supportive and very willing to share their knowledge and advice. I am really enjoying working with everybody and it has very quickly felt like a close-knit team, I am very comfortable with and find enriching and exciting to work with everyday.

Adjusting the Princess of Monaco Dress Bodice

The lovely Aimee, a costume interp student from Bournemouth, who I am also on placement with

11th November 202411th December 2024

Week 2: 30/09/24 Repairing the ‘Butterfly’ Character Bodice and Adding Fullness into the Tutu

Initially, I found the morning of today felt very repetitive. I spent several hours replacing fastenings on costumes which became quite tedious and unchallenging. I then focussed on repairing a yellow ‘Butterfly’ character costume. As I did last time, I replaced the torn mesh panels and rusted fastenings on the back of the bodice. I found this very enjoyable, as it was my second time doing it and I felt my method of fixing it had improved.

Butterfly bodice damaged panels before I replaced them

The process of recutting the new panels and hand slip stitching them carefully into place became really satisfying and even relaxing. I liked that it allowed for a bit of creativity. I was very pleased with the neatness of the outcome.

The Butterfly Costume and Adjustment Notes from the Fitting

I was also a bit nervous, as this ensemble needed to have more fullness added into the tutu skirt. I’ve been fairly safe with the alterations I’ve been doing. This is partly because I felt a bit out of my depth and lacking confidence. It can be intimidating being surrounded by very experienced makers, who have been in the industry for decades. I am also finding that I am somewhat comparing myself to Aimee, who is also on placement and had graduated from costume interpretation at Bournemouth. Her skills are much more refined, which makes sense as her degree was centred around construction, whilst mine is a design based degree. I also realise that I am the one creating these comparisons and putting my skills down, as everybody had been really encouraging and reassuring of my work. I do think this experience has really opened my eyes to the idea that I should build on my construction skills and knowledge. Although I ultimately aim to become a designer, it is incredibly unlikely that that will be how I make my start in costume. It is more realistic to aim to begin as a maker and to work myself up, however I need to improve my practical skills to make this viable.

An Early Design for the ‘Butterfly’ Character by Lez Brotherston

I also think that having an extensive understanding of construction is integral in being a successful designer who can communicate well with makers. This is something I have noticed the team admire about Lez and has enabled him to get what he wants from the costumes, as he understands how they can be adjusted and made.

I am also aware that focussing on smaller more monotonous tasks, like replacing hooks and eyes, would allow for the more experienced makers, such as Helen, to tackle more complex alterations, suited to their skill level and this would get the work load done more quickly, which is a necessity, given the timeline we have to get all of the costumes fitted, altered and refitted.

The Moth Maiden, Moths and Butterfly Costumes onstage

However, I wanted to challenge myself and break the fear of trying one of these alterations. Through using one Helen had already done, as a guide, I was able to add in gathered tule, to the sides of the underskirt of Eve Ngbokota’s Butterfly tutu. This added in fullness which revived the skirt, perking it up and breathing new life into it. This was extremely fulfilling. Helen gave it her thumbs up which was validating and I really enjoyed overcoming the challenge and fear of this alteration.