Opera House opens centre of excellence in Thurrock to train a new generation to manufacture the outfits it is world-famous forRoyal Opera House costume collection – in picturesThey embroidered the waistcoat of Rudolf Nureyev’s Romeo,perfected the bounce of countless tutus for the corps de ballet and clothed Maria Callas’s Tosca in preparation for her jump from the parapet at the close of Puccini’s opera. But top-rank theatrical costume makers like those at Covent Garden are in perilously short supply, according to Alex Beard, and the head of London’s Royal Opera House.
At a time when Britain should be making the most of its worldwide reputation for delivering such skills at the highest level,Beard is concerned that the stock of properly trained costume constructors is dwindling. “In the specific area of costume construction, we are finding the just people in increasingly short supply, and although there is clearly a big demand for this kind of work,not just here but from abroad,” he said. “The truth is there is a skills gap felt by every musical theatre company.”Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com