Reflection the National Theatre Day in London

The National Theatre Day in London

So I wanted to write a little reflection on my day at the open day at the National Theatre, we were shown around the costume department, we went into each section starting from looking at the fabrics, props, costume and wig making and making of props e.g. hats.
The people were so friendly and full of passion when they were talking us through their daily routines and how each day is different and a challenge.
You could tell with the way they spoke that they loved their jobs, the environment seemed very overwhelming but in a good way, it was busy and creative, everywhere you looked there was different fabrics and design ideas scattered around the rooms; it was intriguing to see and witness.  

 We then onto se where they structure the costumes together, how they cook the dyes, create card boarded effect trousers, what products they would use to create certain effects, i enjoyed the creative busyness of the rooms, it really showed how hard working and passionate they are about their jobs.

We got to speak with all costume makers, talking about their background and how they became part of the National Theatre, most of them had different backgrounds from textiles through to engineering, all of them seemed to of changed there normal job and created a busy, passionate way of life for the best working for the National Theatre production.

A picture I took of in the front of the National Theatre before we were taken on the tour around the costume department. I loved how crazy this sign was, so I had to take a picture.

Fabrics, there were so many, so many rooms of fabrics and embellishments and props, I loved looking at stuff. Being shown where everything was made and how many materials they had was very impressive.

Inside the Costume design rooms with the designers and workers in action, working on show production pieces.

Pictures of the designers and workers at work, doing what they love, they were so friendly and informative, they loved showing what they were doing.

Another glimpse of the costume room, we were showed other pieces which we are not allowed to share as these have not been seen by the public yet, this was exciting and so good to see. They showed us pieces from the Alice in Wonderland show and talked us through how a typical night would be at the theatre, there are so many things to do and they work all kinds of hours but they love their job so it didn't bother them, which I really loved hearing about.

Overall, my day was educational, I loved hearing about the stories behind the scenes, watching them create in front of my face, watching them thread wigs together, which I was unable to take pictures of, what I loved seeing all of them working on these extravagant wigs and how much time and money it costs to make one wig, she said around 1 week to make on average costing 1000's of pounds to produce. I was amazed and this part of the tour was my favourite, just watching them get lost in making the wigs for the shows, there is so much skill in this and I really got to appreciate the time and effort gone in to make a show.

Reflection of the Assessments

My thoughts and Reflection of the assessments 

My partner carried out my design on myself as I designed it to work with my hair type, I rsearched both Elizabethan ladies in waiting and i picked Anne Vavasour and Avant Garde style and mixed both Elizabethan style with a contemporary influence, where i got my design. I wanted my partner to make the most of my hair and what it can do, it is manageable, long and coarse, therefore I wanted my hair big and bold, and when he put into practice this worked well.

At first with my design I wanted my hair buns to be big and neat with the use of a hair net but straight away decided not to as I looked into Avant Garde style which made me adapt my design to a more contemporary look with free moving, frizzed buns, but I still wanted to add pearls within the hair to give it an Elizabethan style still. 

Even though my partner didn't carry out my design on myself fully during practice, he did break down certain sections but I would of liked to of seen the full creation during these sessions. however during the assessment I was happy with the result he gave me.
However, there were a few parts I wasn't sure about, as the buns were uneven and not as big as I imagined them to be and the quiff wasn't as big either, as he could of really worked the crimp and back comb in my hair to really make it stand out in a modern Elizabethan way, giving it a bit more edge which I desired. 

I found my partners design interesting but I never got to practice his design on his model, as there was an odd number in our class and his models never turned up, so this was a disadvantage to me; as I was constantly practicing on my katie doll, therefore I was nervous on the day to of final created this design on the model and luckily it turned out well as I had practiced the techniques and design many times in order for myself to master the design on the model.

I found the project interesting, when relating to both Elizabethan period and relating it to fit a modern day audience, this was a fun task, getting inspirations from books websites etc. If I did this again I would of developed my techniques further in order to add more plait work which I struggled with in order to create more texture in the hair. I also enjoyed swapping designs with my partner, it was a challenge but I overcame and worked well under pressure. 

Traditional Elizabethan Hair Design

Traditional Elizabethan Hair Practice Designs 

Queen Elizabeth I

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/309692911846988503/

I researched into traditional Elizabethan hair designs and of portraits and women were highly influenced by Queen Elizabeth I, this image shows the hair neatly rounded and pinned tightly to her head, its precise and executes the look well. These portraits were my inspirations and showed me what traditional Elizabethan designs were truly like.

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/338332990727454414/

Scipione Pulzone (1544–1598) Portrait of Cristina di Lorena (1565-1637)

This image also shows the lift of the hair in a rounded shape that is neatly pinned to her head with showing the high forehead, which was popular and seen to be the thing to do, to show wealth and royalty.

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/571886852656644332/

This portrait shows a family and you can see all there hair designs are rounded and frizzed a traditional Elizabethan style but with a lot of volume with accessories.

When researching and finding out how in Elizabethans women would have their hair, it was neat, frizzed, in a round shape and spongy like texture. The hair seemed compact with jewellery and accessories too. I tried out some of the classic techniques used throughout the 16th century, including frizzing the hair using crimpers and back comb but I didn't want it out of place as their hair was very perfect and neat in design.

I carried out plaiting, lifting with padding underneath the high quiffs, knotted buns and twisted buns.

Practicing different traditional methods of the Elizabethan hair design

I played around with frizzing the hair with crimpers to give the traditional effect to the hair and to give it lift and structure.

Side view of a lifted, frizzed quiff with rounded shape to symbolise a traditional Elizabethan style.

Front view of the high lift of the quiff in order to give them a high forehead which was intended back in the Elizabethan times and seen as the ideal look to have. I wanted to give the look a classic shape of the Elizabethan style, but with structure and smoothness. 

I struggled a little to make the shape fully symmetrical but I was able to show the shape I tended to create. 

Another side view image of the knotted bun and quiff with use of volume to create this.

Rolling the crimped quiff over in sections to gain a smooth rounded effect

Back view of the sectioned rolled crimped quiff giving it structure and smoothness, showing a defined rounded shape with the plaited bun.

Plaited bun practice and a few more images working with different hair, 

Plaited bun on a model, as I was rarely able to carry out my designs on models as it is an uneven amount of people in class and also my partner on this project was a guy so therefore I had to practice on the katie head. However, next time I will hopefully be able to work for more models for my designs and practices.

Creating the roundness of the buns at the back of the head, getting that smoothness and neat look which was popular in the Elizabethan times.

I also created this design at the back of the head to show and reflect my skills as they got better over the weeks, this shows a true traditional Elizabethan style with adaptations with the french plait into the bun, but I felt this was very Elizabethan with the neat crimped/ frizzed buns on top and with the neat plait work into the traditional knotted bun. I was happy with this look and how it turned out, this design I would like to adapt into a more contemporary version with adding other bits.

Blog 9: My Final Hair Design

My Final Design for my partner 

My Final hair chart made clear and with step by step instructions to make my partners life easier, in order to get my design how I want it to look which is designed to my own hair.

Step by Step instructions on how to create my final hair design on my hair, below image, these will be both placed on the mirror for my partner to follow by, making it clear and easy for him to go by.

Accessories my partner used in my buns, which were twisted and scattered in the crimped buns, which gave it a modern Elizabethan feel with the use of the pearls which were popular among royalty in the 16th century but scattering them in uneven buns for a more modern approach and I loved the finish of these, I felt like it made the design. 

A couple Pictures of the pins used in my design 

I gave my partner my second final design image, with debating with myself what would work best on my hair. I found this would really use my hair in the best way possibly, as I have very thick, coarse hair and this design would hold and structure well, with the use of crimp and back comb combined to create this flamboyant design, I also chose this design because it shows all the techniques I learnt throughout my training and shows all the skills possible. 

I also gave it to him because I am using both Elizabethan tradition with a contemporary twist and all these techniques combined will work wonders on my hair, making this design pop and become alive.

I am going to achieve this design, by crimping the bottom half of my hair with the use of a lot of back combing to really give my hair volume to create those rolled buns to the sides. This will be easy for my partner as I have thick coarse hair which is easily mold-able to this design. I will use a fro comb to really bring out the wild frizz from the crimp and back comb before folding the hair into buns. 

Previously I practiced the Ric Raking along the hair line and spread it apart and folded it over to create a 'crown' like shape with a back combed quiff just behind it using the front section of the hair to do so, from then I knew I wanted to incorporate this into one of my final designs. I loved the effect and knew this was doable with my hair, especially with the different coloured tones in my hair which I thought would look effective also, giving the Elizabethan meets modern with an edge. 

I adapted my design to my own hair, as I know I have a lot of hair and I wanted to make sure my partner used a lot of it in each section, so I didn't make the design to detailed as this would of taken him forever because of how much hair I have, therefore I adapted this. The texture of my hair was ideal, as it is coarse and wirey where their hair was very frizzy back in the Elizabethan times so this was a bonus and also makes it easier to manage and this suited my look as I wanted a uneven texture not a smooth texture, so I adapted this based on my hair texture. 

Some pictures of my hair design created: 

Back of my hair design 

I especially loved the look of all the textures and techniques used throughout my design and it worked well with it all combined, especially worked well on my hair and it stayed well. I also loved the finishing touches I made to my design by adding the shattered pearls twisted freely into my crimped/ frizzed buns, this gave it both a modern Elizabethan feel with the pearls but a modern look with the uneven shattering of them throughout the hair.

Blog 10: Assessments: Timed Final Design Assesment

Carrying out my partners final Design on the model with images and thoughts

When seeing my partners design on the hair chart, it wasn't very clear to me so I got him to explain what he wanted me to do. As he hadn't found a model for me to practice on I started breaking it down on a Katie head and practicing the techniques that I weren't sure of, which included combining ribbon in with the plaits. This was new to me and slightly tricky at first, I got a little frustrated but I was determined to do it and as I practiced I overcame this and it went smoothly. 

I was happy with the crimped, back combed quiff he wanted as I had included this in a couple of my designs so therefore I had practiced this, so I was comfortable and confident with carrying this part of the design out and also the twisted plait bun at the back of the head. 

I enjoyed experimenting with the accessories he wanted me to incorporate in his design on the model, with the use of ribbon entwined in the plaits, the chain of pearls grip either side of the bun and with the pearl ring that I gripped at the bottom of the bun. 

However, the placements and accessories were changed a few times of what he wanted and this was changed near the assessment, however, I worked well under pressure and it turned out well I thought and he seemed happy with the way it turned out. 

I was a little worried at first when I found out we were doing each others designs on one another, I was worried I wouldn't do it to my partners standards and that I would struggle to match their design, however, once I got practicing I really started to enjoy it and liked asking questions and what exactly he wanted me to achieve, It felt easy to interact with my partner, even though his design changed slightly and I never really knew until the last minute exactly what he wanted, but I felt he had confidence in me to carry out a well executed design.

I wish my partner had explained from the beginning exactly what he wanted and to not keep changing his mind until the last minute, even though I felt I worked well under pressure and I didn't worry as this would of reflected in my timed assessment and I stayed calm and asked as much as I could to get the best look possible on my model. 

I think he could of given me a step by step plan in a clearer manner and I needed more detail on the hair chart to give me more guidance and structure. Overall, I had faith in myself and went on and it came out well, which I was surprised but where I had practiced the main skills in the design over and over again I felt confident with small changes of the accessories and placements. 

I also wish I had a model bought in by my partner for myself to practice on, because we have an odd number in our class and I had no one to practice on accept my Katie doll, I understand his models let him down so this wasn't his fault, however I wish this was more organised for future assessments.


On the other hand, giving my hair design to my partner to do on myself, I felt was clear with my drawings even though I felt I wrote too much detail on my charts and should of written the basics on the chart and just put all the detail in my step by step guide. This may of been to overwhelming for my partner, but I tend to write too much information then too little, which covers my back. I enjoyed instructing my partner on what I wanted him to achieve on my hair to create my final design and talking with him, I felt confident doing this.

When it came to the assessment, he was first carrying out my design on myself, I made sure I gave him the step by step guide to give him structure and in what order along with the detailed hair chart. Within the time we were given to carry the assessment out, he managed to create my design well, I really liked the placements of the pearls in the buns and seeing all the techniques and textures in the hair, It worked well and looked lovely. 
Even though, I wasn't so happy with the back combed quiff, as I wanted it larger and looser, I wanted it less structured and neat, but it still looked similar and worked well. I felt the two buns were uneven and wonky in appearance but loved the volume he created with the crimp and back comb which was excellent. Overall, he managed to do my design within the time period and to be honest I was pretty happy with the results and the way it looked.

When it was my turn for the assessment, I carried out his design on a model we found a couple hours before the assessment, this because a little stressful as I didn't know who I was doing the design on and what their hair was going to be like and how I was going to manage it. My model had Afro textured hair which was easy to manage luckily and his design worked well on the model, this came at a relief to me as I was extremely worried about this.  I found his hair chart had been changed and adapted to make it easier for myself to follow during my assessment which was great and where he wanted what coloured ribbons, I was so glad he gave me more structure, but I wish he did this sooner.

I managed to create his design to the best of my ability in the time we were given with all the complications in the process of this project, but this was a learning curve for both of us. If I could of changed anything I would of been more confident with my partner making sure he was asking people to come in to be a model for me, so I could of got more practice in on a real model and I have learnt to be more confident in myself. 

A photo of my partners hair chart I followed during the timed assessment 

Front view of my partners design on a model I created who stepped in on the day

Side view of my partners design on the model

The other side view of my partners design I created on the model

Back view of my partners design I created on the model

My Design carried out on myself with images and thoughts 


I gave my partner my hair chart drawn in detail with visible links to where techniques needed to be etc. I also wrote out a step by step, talking through the process of how I wanted my design to end up looking like. I made sure I did this to make it clear and easy for my partner to follow by and to cover myself, I feel if I gave my partner more information this would make his job so much easier.

Images below of the step by step instructions and my final hair design for my partner to go by.

Final Design Hair Chart

When giving my final hair design to my partner, I wasn't worried as I know he has had previous hair experience and thoroughly enjoys it, even so I made sure I explained everything to him and how I wanted it to look.
During the weeks leading up to the assessment, he had only practiced half my hair design on me and I really wanted to see the full look would look on myself, he reassured me with confidence that he had been practicing but on another model. I liked the way he took all the information I gave him on board and asking me questions in order to give me the design I wanted.
I liked how my hair worked so well with the crimp and the back comb as I suspected it to be, showing volume and boldness.

The outcome images of my design on me carried out by my partner

Practice of Partners Final Design

Practice of my Partners Final Design

Over the weeks I have been practicing my partners final design, it has adapted slightly with what accessories and positioning he wanted, but I continued to learn and gain information off my partner and to take it on board to create the design to the best of my ability. 

I found it hard to follow his design as it wasn't too clear, so I spoke to him about the ins and outs of what he wanted me to do and we tried different accessories, I enjoyed working with my partner and we were very supportive of each other and what we wanted to achieve. 

However, I didn't get to practice this design on a model, as he found it hard to get anyone in, so I was fearful of the assessment to do it for the first time on a model, even though I have practiced the techniques over and over again on the doll. 

I broke down each part, by sectioning the hair, I found this easy in order to give the hair structure.

The plaited twisted bun with the pearl ring underneath gave the bun a great effect and it sat well underneath. Pearls were common in the Elizabethan times and this is why he chose the idea of these.

I was given the hair chart and I wanted my partner to explain how he wanted me to fold the top part of the hair and he wasn't sure so I came up with sectioning to top section he wanted folded into 3 sections and folding them individually to create a smooth roll which he wanted and it worked well.

We both adapted our skills to make the design work well for both of us and making it easier and more effective. The photo above shows the break down of the design fold. 

Progress of my partners design, starting to do the back combed quiff in sections.

An up close photo of the sectioning back combed roll, which turned out well, which looked neat and rounded which my partner wanted.

Side view of the plaits with the ribbon, design still in progress, tidying up of the design was needed, but practicing the technical skills e.g. ribbon in with the plaits, which I practiced a lot to master the basic skills.

An up close photo of the hair design with the different coloured ribbons throughout the plaits and with the back combed quiff folded. I was happy with the way it looked and it reflected in my practice and dedication.

Another side view of the ribbon practice pinned at the back of the quiff 

Another photo with the ribbon dangling, as first he wasn't going to have it hanging free but when I did the design he liked the way it looked and decided to keep it that way and honestly I loved the effect it gave, giving it more of a modern feel.

This was what he wanted originally instead of the dangled jewellery, so we replaced the pearl pins with chain of pearls as he preferred the effect of it. However, I enjoyed scattering the pinned pearls underneath the bun. 

Structure of the quiff and the bun up close

More images of practicing his design on the Katie doll below, I really enjoyed this design and I loved the effect of all the accessories and textures with the techniques used. 

I loved the look of the ribbons flowing through the plaits, I enjoyed discussing each others designs and giving my advice in order to adapt the design to make it slightly easier for myself, as I said it was difficult to hide the ribbons and he decided he liked the way they hung down and it looks very effective in the photos. So therefore, we were both happy in the result of the design, overall I felt the accessories really made the design and I loved using the ribbon in with the plaits because at first this was difficult for myself to carry out but with practice I nailed it and loved doing it.

Side view of the rolled quiff with the ribbons entwined in the plaits 

I practiced this design many times, as I felt some parts were tricky with the ribbon in with the plaits and I really enjoyed breaking down each stage and learning new skills from my partner and having the patience to master the techniques throughout the design.

More images of my practicing of my partners design

And more

Last image with a front on view of the final desired design