Again with the theatre!

Since my graduation day approaches, I've been thinking of all the things that happened during those four (or more like five) years of studies, so that's the reason for so many theater themed posts lately. Here! Have one more of those.

As part of our advanced special studies me and my three classmates designed and made costumes for a musical called "Rockville" at Rantasalmi youth theatre (I've mentioned this briefly before).


"Brian Carr, a worn-down rock star, is killed by a bolt of lightning while playing at Lollapalooza. The next thing he remembers is stumbling out of an elevator and being greeted by 2 distinguished gentlemen in white. They inform him that due to his dissolute lifestyle he must go save himself and a town called Rockville that has been devastated by a natural disaster and is being run by corrupt politicians. What they don't tell him is how. Brian Carr has no intention of saving anyone. He never would have thought that the faith of a child, a grandmother and a town full of people would teach him that through his own love of music, Rock would save Rockville."
 

Brian Carr and city's youth

Brian Carr and arch angels

Bad guys

Arch angels and Carr as angel

To learn more about original, Austrian production, go check their site.

More theatre stuff

As a part of my education, I had to carry out two practical trainings. At the first practical training (in 2009) I was working in fabric store (for about a month) and at dressmaker's shop (also about a month). Second practical training was kinda part of the advanced special studies. During this training we (costumier students) could familiarize ourselves better with what it's really like to work in theatre. At this second training (in 2010) I was working in Hasaniemi theatre as a seamstress in two different plays: "Uncle Fedya, His Dog, and His Cat" by Eduard Uspensky and "The Howling Miller" by Arto Paasilinna.

For "Howling Miller" I made few hats (nurse's cap and shop owner's hat) and a shirt from scratch, but mostly I did just some modifications to costumes and some accessories since most of the costumes were pulled out from theatre's costume storage. For "Uncle Fedya" I made most of the costumes from scratch and made alterations to ready-made garments.

Villagers and rural police chief

Howling Miller in mental hospital

Dog, Cat and Fedya getting ready for treasure hunt

Jackdaw, squirrel, bunny and "indian" cow

Fedya's mother

Fedya's mother and father (that bright pink dress was hiding under mom's black coat dress)

And apparently I didn't fail too much because at the end of the practical training I was asked to be a costume designer for next year's play "Rollo and the Woods Sprite" (which I did as my thesis).
 

Something I'm kinda proud of

Last summer I designed and made costumes for a summer theatre play Rollo and the Woods Sprite (Rölli ja metsänhenki in finnish). It was my "final" school project, thesis, which is kinda thing to show teachers what you've learned over the years and such. It was my first "solo" designing project and OH MY it was demanding. Play had 26 actors, lots of dancing, wire tricks, etc.
The whole process of designing and making all those costumes was stressful as h*ll, I had to work long hours and keeping director and actors AND myself as a designer happy with the costumes was (and always is) difficult. But in the end it was all worth it and I would do all that again without a doubt. The feeling you get when you see your own creations on stage for the first time is priceless.

Anyways, here's some pictures ((c) Noora Pasanen and Carita Huttunen). Looking through them always makes me happy.
"I made them"

There's another person under the skirt, she's not really that tall. (shhh, it's a secret)

School work, take 2 (Warning: picture heavy)

Earlier I posted some pics of my historical gown which at that point was still in the making. Now it's ready so here's some pics of all those billion layers that goes into that outfit. Note that a dressform isn't as curvy as humans are, so clothes look a bit meh. If I someday get good pics of somebody wearing it (most likely me), then I'll probably add them to this post.

So, what goes into this outfit:

Put on a chemise..

..a corset..

(same corset from behind)

...hoopskirt...

...petticoat...

...kirtle (not ready in this pic)...

(decorative trim on the hem of the finished kirtle)

...main gown...

...foresleeves...

...some bling bling...

...girdle (a.k.a. fancy belt thingy)...

...and Voilá! oh, and don't forget French hood (that hat thing)

All pieces made by me, including jewelry.
It takes a long time to get into that gown and you need somebody to help you get dressed, but it's a lot of fun to wear anyway.