Creative TAFE Home ~ Creative TAFE Index ~ Theatre Costume Index
 

Previous ~ Home ~ Showcase 1999 Index ~ Next

Maryanne Lawler

 
I am interested in gaining more knowledge in theatre, film and television.  The more I know, the more I want to learn different ways of costume cutting and exploring new techniques to achieve a different result.  Other interests include different aspects of design and prop making.

During the training at East Sydney Campus I learnt different methods of pattern making and cutting of period costumes and related sewing and draping techniques.  Other skills include tailoring, jewelry making, millinery and art finishing.  I also learnt how to work in a team and to a dead-line.

Presently I am working as wardrobe supervisor for theatre, but I have gained varied knowledge and experience by working in a range of different environments within TV, theatre and opera.  Within these areas I have worked on period costumes, tailoring, modern futuristic/fantasy costumes using unusual fabrics.  I have also been involved in prop making and art finishing.

Prior to enroling in the Diploma in Theatre Costume Manufacturing I have had many years of experience working in made to measure clothing.  Through this work I have become adept at pattern making designing, sewing and fitting individuals.  I have also learnt to deal with people.  I have found these skills most valuable in the theatre industry when working alongside designers, directors and colleagues.

My future plans include being involved in the film industry.  I also wish to have more creative input into costume and prop design.  I enjoy being involved in wardrobe supervision and pride myself on being reliable and able to do whatever is necessary to get the job done.
 
  

Oliver Twist in ballet!
  

The costumes I have designed will be for a ballet production of 'Oliver Twist' by Charles Dickens.  Instead of the ballet taking place in the 1830's, this ballet will be moved forward to the 1930's during the Great Depression.  This is in the same vein as many other productions, Romeo and Juliet - Westside Story,   Pygmalion-My Fair Lady-Pretty Woman.

The two characters I will portray are Oliver and Fagin.  The main feature of the costumes will be masks, to be worn by the dancers as used in the Lyon Opera Ballet, 'Cinderella'.

Oliver Twist (1837-39) is novelist Charles Dickens's classic tale of life among London's poor. The novel's hero, Oliver Twist, is an orphan who flees the grim atmosphere of a parish workhouse only to fall in with a band of thieves in the capital. Oliver is taught to pick pockets and to steal by other gang members and has a number of unfortunate adventures before he is finally rescued and adopted by the kindly Mr. Brownlow. The novel contains several of Dickens's most memorable characters, among them the insidious leader of the gang, Fagin, his partner Bill Sikes, Jack Dawkins the Artful Dodger, and above all, the misguided but lovable Oliver. One of Dickens's most popular works, Oliver Twist has been filmed (notably in 1948) and staged a number of times, most recently as a musical (1960).  Bibliography: Chesterton, G. K., Appreciations and Criticisms of the Works of Charles Dickens (1977; repr. 1992); Dunn, R., 'Oliver Twist' (1992); Lucas, J., Charles Dickens: The Major Novels (1993); Paroissein, D., The Companion to 'Oliver Twist' (1991).  (c) 1997 Grolier, Inc.