Work Experience Placement Report.

I really enjoyed my two week placement in the wardrobe department in Salisbury Playhouse and I have learnt a lot from the experience. I took part in various different tasks and I also had the opportunity to see how a designer worked in this environment and how production meetings and run throughs took place. I think that throughout the experience my confidence has grown and I feel I understand this professional environment and the roles within it much better. I had the opportunity to go to a production meeting and this really helped me to see how the different departments work together with the director and designer to realise the designs. Each department had the opportunity to discuss any problems they were having and whether members from other teams could help to solve them. I saw the advantages and disadvantages of this, and it was interesting how in some respects many problems had been solved before the meeting and it was more of a case of checking over the production with all departments present.

I found it very beneficial being able to see how the designer worked in relation to all the departments but more particularly the wardrobe department and the actors. I saw many fittings and I think this has helped me to understand how much a design can change when problems arise during the rehearsals, for example, what will the costume be made of and can the actor move in it? From the fittings I've learnt a lot about the importance of getting the size of the costume correct, but also how the actors feel in the costume and whether they think it portrays their character in the right way and whether a costume needs any additions or changes. Seeing how the designer works gives me more of an idea of how to realise The Canterbury Tales and how important it is for me to have a good rapport with the actors, especially so that I understand the requirements of their costume and so they feel the costume is an extension of the character they are going to play.

I enjoyed working in the team environment as I think that many problems are solved much quicker that way and everyone can use their strengths most effectively. It was also interesting to see how much the designer was part of that team too, as I did see that role as perhaps more of a singular one. It is apparent now that although when designing the play it is partially a singular role, realising the play is entirely a team effort and everyone relies on each other. During my placement I think that seeing the designer as so much part of the team really helped the process, and decisions and problems were solved with less difficulty.

I helped to organise the many different costumes for this production, labelling them and also finding and packaging any unwanted hired costumes. This is an important task as it means that the overall charge from the hire company for what is used will be much less. Also keeping a record of the items means that if anything is lost then the theatre has a record of what they've kept. It  gave me an idea of the extent of different costumes that have to be hired and the different options that have to be available for the designer. I realised that although a costume may be hired sometimes there is still a lot of work for the wardrobe team in adjusting it to fit the actor / actress and / or adding trims and decoration to make the garment unique for the production. For the show all costumes have to be labelled appropriately so that the dressers have a clear understanding of what each actor is wearing. I helped to organise all the costumes, dividing them by the different actors/actresses and labelling them with the actor's/actress' name and their character. The play I was working on is unusual as there are 9 performers playing several parts.

During the second week of my placement I went to part of a run through and this was a really interesting opportunity to see how the actors, director and other members of the team worked together to help the smooth running of the play. Members of the wardrobe department who would be dressing on the production were taking relevant notes on the various changes that would take place. This is very important and tells them how, where (stage right or left), when and the speed at which they would have to change, giving the dressers and other members of the wardrobe department the opportunity to solve any problems they think may arise before the show begins, for example whether any not particularly important parts of a costume need cutting. This experience also taught me the importance of every member of the team having great familiarity with the play, not only in terms of the actual writing and script but also what the director has chosen to do with it and how it has been realised. Therefore, in the case of the wardrobe department, it is important to know how this will affect the costumes, whether any problems will need addressing and also the changes backstage. This experience will help me in the autumn term when rehearsals start for The Canterbury Tales as I now have a better understanding of why it is so important to see rehearsals. It has helped me to fully appreciate the importance of how the play is happening so that it will be easier for me to understand the requirements and constraints of the performance before it takes place.

In conclusion I think that my work placement has been an extremely valuable experience. I was a little nervous to start with but tried to volunteer for as many jobs as possible, rather than waiting to be asked, therefore improving my confidence. I now understand the extent of the various tasks that need doing and how much more busy and intense the job is during a tech week and closer to the run up of a show. I had a great time at my work placement and it has helped me to understand the industry better, how a designer works with the wardrobe team and the actors, how fittings take place in the wardrobe department of a producing theatre, how the different departments work together and the general running of the wardrobe department.

Work Experience Placement. Final Day.

I have finished my work placement today and I feel it has been a really valuable experience. I think that working in a professional environment has really improved my confidence. At first I was a bit nervous but to stop this from hindering my time at the Playhouse I tried to volunteer for jobs rather than waiting to be asked. This also helped me to understand the extent of the various tasks that need doing and how much more busy and intense the job is during a tech week and closer to the run up of a show. I've also learnt that even when hiring costumes this still brings many tasks for the wardrobe team, whether it's adjusting it to fit the actor/actress or adding more decoration to make it more unique to the show. Below are some pictures of some of the tasks I undertook. For the show all costumes have to be labelled appropriately so that the dressers have a clear understanding of what each actor is wearing. I helped to organise all the costumes, dividing them by the different actors/actresses and labelling them with the actor's/actress' name and their character. This play is unusual as there are 9 performers playing several parts.

Above is a picture showing the rails divided into the actors/actresses with all their different costumes. Below are some pictures of decoration I added to a garment that was hired.

I had a great time at my work placement and it has helped me to understand the industry better, how a designer works and how the designer works with the actors, how fittings take place in the wardrobe department of a producing theatre, how the different departments work together and the general running of the wardrobe department.

Work Experience Placement Week Two. Alterations

For the past couple of days I have been working on alterations for the many different costumes in this play whilst observing fittings etc. Through watching the runs and using their the costume plots the dressers have established some of the quickest changes and therefore some adjustments that have to be made. For example, below are three pictures of how I turned a blouse into a quick change blouse using velcro.

This will speed up the changes and make the backstage work easier for the dressers.
Observing fittings has allowed me to see how a designer approaches any difficulties and problems that might occur. I have realised the importance of having a good rapport with the actors as this helps the process and improves the final finished costumes; both designer and actor can discuss the possibilities of a costume.

Work Experience Week Two

I went to part of a run through today and this was a really interesting opportunity to see how the actors, director and other members of the team worked together to help the smooth running of the play. Members of the wardrobe department were taking important notes on how, where, when and the speed at which the changes were going to take place. This experience gave me an idea of the importance of your familiarity with the actual play. Not only in terms of the script and writing but also what the director has chosen to do with it and how this will affect the costumes and therefore changes. I think this will also help in the autumn term when The Canterbury Tales rehearsals take place as I now have a better understanding of why it is so important to see rehearsals etc. It has helped me to realise how to fully appreciate the importance of how the play is happening so that it will be easier for me to understand the requirements and constraints of the performance.

Work Experience. End of Week One.

I finished the first week of my work experience today. I have really enjoyed it and also learnt a lot about the industry and my practice. I went to a production meeting on Wednesday and witnessed first hand how the different members of the team, for example set building, lighting, costume, work together to solve issues and to check on the progress of the production. It was really interesting to see the relationship between these different departments and how they use each others' skills to create the show. I have also seen a few fittings for the show and I've learnt a lot about the importance of getting the size of the costume correct, but also how the actors feel in the costume and whether they think it portrays their character in the right way and whether a costume needs any additions or changes. Today I was helping to sort out costumes that had been hired for the show but which the designer has decided we don't need. This is an important task as it means that the overall charge for what is used will be much less but also keeping a record of the items means that if anything is lost then the theatre has a record of what they've kept. I have also learnt some useful abbreviations: S/L sleeveless C/A collar attached L/S long sleeves S/S short sleeves. It has been a very good week and I think I have learnt a lot about professional practice within the industry.

Work Experience Day Two

I discovered the various pitfalls and challenges that come with any specialist equipment/costume that has to be sourced and purchased for a play. Not only is it important that the quality is right for the piece and its period but also the price and fundamentally it has to be the right size for the actor. I am really enjoying my time at the Playhouse already and it is a pleasant environment to work in. I like the team atmosphere particularly as I think that any problems are solved much quicker in such an environment and everyone can use their strengths most effectively.

Work Experience Placement Day One.

I started my work experience placement in the wardrobe department of Salisbury Playhouse today. I was slightly nervous to begin with but I settled into the tasks very easily as the staff were really friendly and welcoming. I feel really excited about the various tasks I will be given as the team are working on a show that starts soon. I feel that my confidence will grow more and more working in a professional environment and I am pleased that this experience will give me a much better view of how a show comes together before opening night. I found it interesting how various challenges were overcome in terms of sourcing and buying costume pieces. Also today helped me realise the importance of labelling and organising costumes correctly so that it is easier and more efficient for a dresser when the show opens; particularly within a show that has many quick changes.

Dents Prize!

I discovered yesterday that I have won the Dents Prize for my entry in a glove design competition. This came as a complete shock as I honestly didn't think I would win this prize. I am obviously really pleased and I think this has given me a bit of a boost to have more belief in my abilities and in terms of this project more confidence in my design decisions.

2nd Meeting with the Director.

I had my 2nd meeting with the director yesterday and I feel it went really well. A few practical concerns about my set arose but I they were worked out during my tutorial in the afternoon. I'm really pleased that he liked my set design and I am going to use my mock up set to experiment futher with how the different tales could be told and the particular requirements they may have. I think that I have become much more confident not only in my work but the methods I use to create and develop my ideas. This project has very different and particular challenges that I haven't encountered before but for me this only makes the project all the more interesting. I need to continue to consider the play and the script at all times as I think that sometimes I get carried away with the different possibilities and forget the context of the play. For example, I was very excited about the nun's priest's tale and how I could represent chickens forgetting that it is unlikely pilgrims would be carrying a large beak round with them. Therefore I think I need to just focus some of my ideas a bit more, not forgetting the spontaneous and physical theatre effect that we want to achieve with this play.

Learning Agreement

NAME:                                   Lauren Holman

COURSE:                             BA (Hons) Costume with Performance Design        

UNIT TITLE:                         Self Directed Project                    

REF. NO./LEVEL:               CSS518

WEIGHTING:                        2.0      

DURATION:                         9 Weeks       

HOURS OF STUDY:           300 Hours    

Unit Leader:                         Adele Keeley/Graham Cottenden

Your Blog address:           ...http://laurenholmansdp.blogspot.com/…

DESCRIPTION:

For this project I am going to design the costumes and set for the School of Production performance of The Canterbury Tales by Mike Poulton. This production will take place from November 8^th until the 10^th during the autumn term 2012. I chose this opportunity because I wanted to learn what it is like to design a production through from beginning to end and also to experience working with a director. I want to experience how costume makers and other members of a production team would interpret my designs and therefore how they will be ultimately realised. I chose The Canterbury Tales in particular as it has many specific challenges involved which would require experimental techniques and thinking to overcome them. I felt this would enhance the experience for me and therefore increase my learning. I also want to experience what it is like to have the challenges and considerations that come with working to a budget. I intend to analyse the script and produce a script breakdown, and also carry out research into the period, clothing worn and Chaucer himself, including thoughts and research into the original Canterbury Tales. I will consider the fabrics that would have been worn in the medieval period and use this research to create an appropriate colour scheme. I am going to do a one to two-week work placement at Salisbury Playhouse as well, working on their production of Epsom Downs. For assessment I will produce a design sketchbook detailing my ideas, research, inspiration and design development. I will create the majority of the designs for The Canterbury Tales, taking into account the set and the feel of the whole piece. I will produce an ‘in the round’ set design for the studio theatre consisting of a 3D model. I will reflect on and update my progress in my blog and complete this with a 750 word evaluation and bibliography detailing the sources used for my research. I will also produce a 1000 word evaluation reflecting on what I have learnt on my work experience placement, with consideration on how I will use what I have learnt in the future.

Aims:

A1       To provide opportunities for self-initiated, autonomous learning

            and develop the ability to plan time and work independently

A2       To provide opportunity to study the contextual development of costume and performance design

A3       To further develop the creative, intellectual and practical applications of research and contextualisation within a self initiated environment

A4       To propose, develop and evaluate professional aspirations through professional development planning

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this unit you will be able to:

LO1     Identify and define the context for the development of your own work towards professional aspirations

LO2     Demonstrate an understanding of the development of Costume with performance design

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LO3     Have developed the creative, intellectual and practical applications of research and contextualisation

LO4    Consolidate and demonstrate professional aspirations and planning   

Assessment Requirements:

Hand In: A collection of costume designs and a set design (to include a model box) for the production of The Canterbury Tales by Mike Poulton supported by a design sketchbook and a personal reflection of the development of your project in your blog. Including a 1000 word evaluation on your work experience placement. Under pinned by personal development planning (in your blog journal) and a final written evaluation (750 words) evidenced in your Blog     100%

Each assessment requirement must be passed at a minimum grade of 40% to successfully complete the unit

Assessment Criteria (specific criteria related to the learning outcomes and linked to the statement of generic assessment criteria matrix):           

           

1.      Evidence of knowledge of contextual and theoretical issues – The level to which you have considered the context of your project and evidenced that to your body of work (LO1, LO2)

2.      Evidence of understanding through synthesis and development – The application and extend to which research has informed decision-making and project development together with the appropriate management of time (LO2, LO3, LO4)

3.      Evidence of evaluation and reflection – The extent to which you have reflected on the progress of your project and used it to inform personal development planning (LO4)

4.      Evidence of realisation through the communication of ideas - The presentation of your work and the level to which specialist knowledge has been applied, communicated and evidenced (LO3, LO4)

Reference Material

Alexander, M (e.d.) (1996) The Canterbury Tales, Illustrated Prologue. London: Scala Books.

BBC (2012) Geoffrey Chaucer [Online] London. Available From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historicfigures/chaucer_geoffrey.shtml [Accessed: 15th March 2012]

Cunnington, P and Willet, C (n.d.) Handbook of English Medieval Costume. London: Faber and Faber Ltd.

Hansen, H-H (1956) Costume Cavalcade. London: Shenval Press.

Hartley, D (1931) Medieval Costume and Life. London: B.T Batsford Ltd.

Hodges, L.F (2000) Chaucer and Costume. Cambridge: D.S. Brewer.

Houston, M (1965) Medieval Costume in England and France. London: A&C Black Ltd.

Laver, J (1969) A Concise History of Costume. Norwich: Jarrold and Sons Ltd.

Mortimer, I (2009) The Time Traveller’s Guide to Medieval England. London: Vintage Books.

Poulton, M (2005) The Canterbury Tales. London: Nick Hern Books.

Initial Fabric Research.

This is a picture of some of my initial fabric research. I have tried to collect as many different samples that I think are suitable for my set and costumes so that when I go to the fabric shops I have more of an idea of what I'll want in terms of colour, texture and content. When developing my designs and throughout my degree I have found it increasingly important to fully consider the sampling. After all when the costumes are made nobody ever sees the design again, it is the final piece that matters. I think with this project I want the costumes to look authentically medieval yet with some interest as well. Therefore the fabrics I should really use are things like linen, wool and silk for the more upper class characters. In conclusion I am keen to get the right fabrics for my characters as the samples are always an essential and extremely important part of the design.

Ideas....

I have completed my initial ideas for the costumes and set. I also have an idea about how both will work together as I think it is important that the cast use the set to their advantage in telling the tales. I am pleased with how my costume ideas are looking as a group as I want them to work together yet I don't want them to appear too similar in colours or silhouette. I intend to start planning how I am going to develop these ideas and how the actual designs will be realised. I want the costumes to have quite a rustic medieval feel therefore I think it might be interesting to use linen and experiment with dying samples to achieve unique and interesting colours. From my research I realised that many fabrics would have been dyed using vegetable dyes and that the poorer the person the less vibrant the colour. I will consider this when sampling for my final designs.

Explanation of Design Ideas.

I was explaining my intitial concepts and ideas to family/friends recently and I have discovered that I find it much easier to get across my enthusiasm for and main points of an idea by verbally explaining it rather than making notes in my sketchbook. I also found that with my last project my concepts came across much better when I presented them, backing up the communication through the designs. In the future I think I will take this into consideration and think more about how I can transfer this into improving the notes and evaluation in my sketchbook.