Yesterday I dragged some of the more compliant members of the family to the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford (2 hours by car) for some culture.

Ok If I’m honest it was still about makeover as I was on stage hosting a workshop around theatrical costume.

This time though my 4 willing subjects were not going to get any trends or body shape advice and figure fixing tips. Instead Joan, Emily Cathy and Bill (who was convinced his fetching leather Centurion get up would end up all over Facebook as his daughter was pointing the digital camera his way from the audience) got an insight into Acting and Costume.

I loved interviewing Alistair McArthur Head of Costume at the RSC, about the way costumes are made – no zips in case of breakages during fast changes and no Velcro due to loud noises back stage and the fact that it stands too proud especially on men’s flies…so what then?

Well tiny magnets actually! These shave seconds off the backstage panic and could certainly be a bonus in my own more trend-oriented industry during fashion week must pass this on!

But what did the makeovers look like? Well for Cathy and Joan, distinctly unattractive as Joan on the right re-entered the stage with make-up to replicate a medieval completion: some pox an added extra; while Cathy on the left, in full Jacobean power dressing mode, and with her tight red lips and painted out eyebrows, looked spooky to say the least. Emily and Bill got a better deal: he in leather and a skirt and she in fifties siren attire.

Still they all gamely posed for my blog as you can see and I learned an enormous amount about costume making.

If one does has to be working on a Sunday that’s not a bad job for the day is it!

Related posts:

1. Discount Dressing-up
2. A good start!