Tuesday 22 April 2014

Costuming Lady Windermere's Fan


Elenor Porrill is in Reading doing a year's placement as part of her course at Bath University and is making the most of her time here to get involved in Progress Theatre. She is performing in and organising the costumes for Lady Windermere's Fan and has also been cast as Katherine in this summer's outdoor production of Love's Labour's Lost...And Won

Although the play was written in the 1890s this production is set slightly later than this so that elements of Art Deco can be introduced in the set. The costumes range from Victorian for the older characters to almost a flapper style for the younger characters.


Elenor (centre) in a scene from Lady Windermere's Fan
photo Richard Brown

The costumes all came from Progress's own wardrobe store and our huge collection of dinner jackets was invaluable for clothing the men who need day and evening suits. Elenor even found a box of vintage hair pieces for the women. The all important fans have come from producer Becky, who conveniently has quite a collection of them. The only items Elenor had to buy were accessories and she had fun hunting in charity shops to find appropriate pieces.

If you are interested in what goes on at Progress Theatre then sign up to this blog. Enter your email in the box under ‘about us’ and click on subscribe. New postings are made weekly so you won’t be swamped with emails. 

Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde, Thursday 24th April – Saturday 3rd May 2014

Jazz at Progress

Not About Heroes by Stephen MacDonald, Monday 26th May – Saturday 31st May 2014

God of Carnage by Yazmina Reza, adapted by Christoper Hampton Monday 23rd June – Saturday 28th June 2014

Reading Open Air at Caversham Court Gardens

Full details about out theatre and all our activities can be found on our website.

Wednesday 9 April 2014

Lady Windermere's Fan do some recycling

The list of important jobs
 
As a small volunteer run theatre we like to find ways to save money -  without compromising on quality of course. In this spirit the platform from Trainspotting is being reused as part of the set for Lady Windermere's Fan. For Trainspotting the platform was split down its length and hinged so that it could be opened out for some scenes. The set building team for Lady Windermere's Fan have divided the platform so that they have two thin raised areas.

The platform will be in completely different settings for its second life. Instead of being part of a disused station, drug dealers flat and various bars it will be appearing in elegant drawing rooms and a ball. It will also witness less swearing and general abuse although no doubt still plenty of bad behaviour, just delivered with a polite smile.

As well as recycling pieces from previous sets the building team are making some elements from scratch. I saw the skeleton of what will become a chandelier complete with hanging crystals.



 The set is basically 'black box' with the interest coming from some beautiful pieces of furniture. Including this occasional table being treated to a good polish.




If you are interested in what goes on at Progress Theatre then sign up to this blog. Enter your email in the box under ‘about us’ and click on subscribe. New postings are made weekly so you won’t be swamped with emails. 


Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde, Thursday 24th April – Saturday 3rd May 2014


Not About Heroes by Stephen MacDonald, Monday 26th May – Saturday 31st May 2014

God of Carnage by Yazmina Reza, adapted by Christoper Hampton Monday 23rd June – Saturday 28th June 2014

Reading Open Air at Caversham Court Gardens

Full details about out theatre and all our activities can be found on our website.