Over the last three weeks I have had the opportunity to work with Red Dragonfly Productions, a Lymington based English/Chinese touring theatre company, on their most recent productions 'Tom Jones' and 'Monkey', preparing the costumes for the show.
Tom Jones is an adaptation of Henry Fieldings novel of the same name, set in the 1800's between a country estate, an Inn at Upton, and London, following the story of the illegitimate Tom Jones and his fortunes - and misfortunes. The concept behind the production is that the players are at Henry Fieldings house for a party and as their entertainment are putting on Fieldings latest work, the majority taking on multiple roles, using found clothes that are in the house left over from previous guests and visitors, which leads to a range of styles throughout the 1800's.
Thanks to a few costume sales and job lots over the last year the company had a large store of period appropriate costumes already available, though the majority required a substantial amount of repairs and alterations most especially taking up, letting down, false backs, taking in and additional fastenings. I also made two costume pieces for Tom Jones, a pair of military breeches for Ross - writer, director and actor - and a pink underskirt for the floral dress of Ainsley, our Lady Sophia.
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| Lady Sophia in her floral dress with pink underskirt |
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| Left, Ross as Military with white breeches - Right, our 'Tom' |
While Tom Jones had the vast amount more costumes and by far the larger amount of makes and alterations, for Monkey I made Tripitaka's hat, Monkeys yellow neckerchief, and made minor alterations to the 'princess' costume. Below are official promotional photographs taken by Mark Piggott Photography.
It has been wonderful working with Red Dragonfly Productions and I hope to work with them again.
