With a cast of over 30, multiple scene changes and just a few days before the curtains are raised for The Lowestoft Players’ pantomime Snow White, The Players’ Wardrobe Team are now stitching like crazy to ensure that everyone looks truly amazing on stage.
Led by Diana Richards - Linda Goodhand, Kim Simpson, Sue Mobbs and Jenny Wright make up the rest The Team. Between them they have over one hundred years’ experience of creating costumes for the entire cast.
“The Lowestoft Players used to hire all costumes” explained Kim Simpson who has been stitching for the Lowestoft Players for over 25 years. She became involved when her children were part of the popular performing society.
Kim continued “Hiring costumes is rather expensive so, apart from the villagers’ and finale costumes, we make the rest ourselves.”
The small but very productive team re-uses, re-purposes and recycles as much as possible to make certain that every single cast member has perfectly fitting costumes, sometimes adapting donated items and charity shop finds.
Of course pantomime costumes are particularly colourful and often very imaginative so we asked The Team who comes up with the designs?
The Lowestoft Players’ Wardrobe Team very much prefer to work behind the scenes, and could be described as camera shy, but we managed to snap Linda Goodhand hard at work making a costume alteration. Credit: Emma Cullen.
“Sometimes it’s the director of the production” said Kim, But more often than not we are given a verbal description of what is required and the rest is left to us – there are very few sewing patterns in our workshop!”
Although Kim usually concentrates on the wardrobe for junior performers, for this production she has also been working on a very special creation for Dame Lizzie Crust, one of the main characters.
“Without giving too much away, I’ve used an old quilt which I found in my loft and a cut-price waffle throw plus more hand stitches than I care to remember to make this one. I’ve been working on it at home, unfortunately it’s resulted in an abundance of fluff in just about every room of the house. Hopefully it be worth it though to see the reaction from the audience as Dame Lizzie steps on stage.”
Linda Goodhand who has also been stitching for the Lowestoft Players for over 25 years somehow finds enough spare time to run a choir – The Waveney Singers. The group regularly performs themed 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s concerts in the area. We asked Sue if the choir has costumes?
“Yes, of course they do” she replied “And I make them all!”
Besides having a great imagination and being exceptionally proficient sewers The Team agreed that due to the time commitment and often the mess at home, understanding husbands are essential too!
Snow White will be staged at The Marina Theatre, Lowestoft from Saturday 21st to Sunday 29th January. Artwork credit: Stephen Wilson.
To watch the show and see the fantastic costumes created by Linda, Diana, Kim, Sue and Jenny please contact The Marina Theatre Box Office on 01502 533200 or visit the Theatre’s website – www.marinatheatre.co.uk
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