Zoe Brakes Costume Designer: Taking On A New Role........In Extremis

This was a new experience to me, following the Top Girls performance I stepped in to help with the amazing show, In Extremis.

My role was to help Rosie, the shows Supervisor carry out any task she needed me to do, hello Supervising Assistant!!!

My jobs consisted of gold leafing a staff, costume repairs, emergency costume sourcing, leading the Parade, aiding fittings, dressing during the shows.......and anything else in between!

I loved working on this show, it may have been because it was a new and fresh role, but mostly I loved the team, and of course working on a show that had such amazing costume and set design was a privilege, just wish I'd designed it myself, that I would be proud off!!!

My numerous roles in photos..................

Props, this crown was found in a crew members attic, ideal for the king, my job to repair it.............

Making a night shirt......I don't make so bare with me.

luckily I started it but a more competent maker took over, I had the parts all ready and cut out.

The castration scene, we needed blood and it was my job to find the best way. Doubling up on night shirts means one has blood on and the other is before the scene without blood.

Fake blood worked a dream, but takes a lifetime to dry.

Gold leafing, there's a first time for everything, a long process but effective.....

...........and the fixed crown.....

adding varnish to create shadow and edges,a less flat look for the staff.....

Breaking down costumes, after all no dying monk has pristine clothing.

Using fullers earth, paint, flour, a cheese grater and scissors creates this effect......

Rosie's fabulous organisation skills for the dressing room....

The Accessories

The upkeep of the costumes, ironing repairing and stain removing

The huge amount of costumes, this play had a huge cast with actors playing numerous roles, a massive job for Emma and Rosie when sourcing the costumes, but very well done

Each actor had their own base to put their belongings, and labelled clearly so we knew what was missing when returning the costumes.

........busy repairing......

The Stunning Set, well done Rhiannon.

......The wheel turned.....

........my dressing corner was behind that curtain, nowhere to go from their during show time so the costumes I needed HAD to be in place before each half. I took it upon myself to check all props and costume where in place ready each time as I didn't want to have to sneak across the stage!

Stage right, where Aimee and Ellen dressed, and exit to dressing room

Stage left, organising my corner

Props and costumes in place, and a chair so I could sit and enjoy the show until I had

to speedily change the actors

Set pieces

Sadly I couldn't get the photos on here of all the individual hats I sourced on an emergency trip to the National Theatre hire Department in London, but I had picked out a huge selection of medieval hats and caps for trying on the actors to complete their costume. I love visiting the Hire Department, the huge selection of costumes available makes designing for a show very exciting and possible.

And now the show in photos, amazing work everyone..........

a bit out of order but the idea of the performance comes across beautifully......

my gold leaf staff being put to good use.....

And the night shirt.........

Another costume broken down by yours truly.... the prostitute's costume was already in a broken down state but after tacking the dress in different areas my job was to add paint to roughen up the yellow lining and carry this on over the whole costume.