But it wasn’t all peasants, and the dreaded cardboard boxes of rags: I also got to choose, and later make, principal costumes. Much more fun! [Making forty fairly-period-accurate caps to cover those granny perms, on the night before a show is no fun at all]
Sometimes I made the whole outfit, sometimes we hired bits and bobs from the RSC or BBC costume hire departments. These often had famous names stitched inside, which always gave me a fangirl thrill.




I even snagged a few commissions from the cast:

I enjoyed that trip down memory lane- hope you did too. Any of you done any costume work for stroppy amateurs?
Costuming must be so thoroughly fun – and chaotic! This certainly was an enjoyable trip down memory lane (and even your sweet little ones….). The black and wedding ensemble is gorgeous!
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I did costumes for my local Am Dram for a couple of seasons – they were such prima donnas I couldn’t be a…d to do it for long.
I did make all the costumes for my theatre and dance school for over 10 years – from Oliver to Annie, via South Pacific, Cabaret, Firebird and Nutcracker. Much last minute sewing, so one year I co-erced a keen mum to help. She had to make 20 little mu-mu dresses and 1 shorts and shirt for small people ( age 3-4 years) Come day of dress rehearsal she strolled in and said she hadn’t had time to do anything – she’d taken the fabric up to somewhere bloody miles away to her mum for her to do them and she’d have them show day. Turns out on show day mum hadn’t had time either …… So I have 21 potentially naked kids. OK breathe – ran to nearby fabric land and bought 2 bolts of flowery tat, came back and tore fabric up into lengths and tied it round kids like a sarong, plonked on flower garlands and pushed them on stage. All well that ends well – except one furious mum – I had sent her little boy out in a dress and she wasn’t happy – I am imagining the photos -oooopsss!
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Nightmare! At least these were adults…
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Yet more fun! Love the wedding ensemble too.
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It was fun!
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This is an amazing catalogue DF! I am in awe of your achievements. I can see how you enjoy the full-on look!
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Glad you liked it- I’ve found more pics lurking in one of my heaps, and will sort them out soon…honest! Anyway they all still give me joy lol
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That looks like hard work but great fun. I have made an infinitely adjustable pattern for a local am dram company but left the sewing to them (cowardly I know!)
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sounds interesting
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