A team of ten students from the Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics for Stage and Screen course at the university gained valuable industry experience working behind the scenes at Royal & Derngate from Wednesday 28 to Saturday 31 October. They supported performers and collaborated with theatre professionals throughout the production.
Jessica Ian, a student on the course, led the team as Lead Hair and Makeup Designer for the first time. Working with supervisors Lucia Maule and Aspen Haseldine, Jessica guided seven other hair and makeup artists. They were responsible for designing and delivering character looks for the show's seven performances, including a dress rehearsal.
The team's duties included creating and maintaining stage makeup and hairstyling, as well as providing touch-ups during the live shows. Jessica Ian commented on the experience, stating, “I have previously worked in theatre, but this was my first time ever leading a team. I designed looks for each character by watching rehearsals, meeting the cast and crew, and taking inspiration from the original film.” She added, “I am so pleased with how the team worked together, and we received excellent feedback from the company.”
Laura Stonys, Course Leader and Senior Lecturer in Hair, Make-up and Prosthetics for Stage and Screen, highlighted the importance of such opportunities. She said, “Opportunities like this are invaluable for our students, allowing them to put their creative skills into practice in a professional environment while developing the employability skills that are so important when entering the industry.” Stonys also noted the development of communication, teamwork, organisation, and adaptability skills gained from working on a live production.
This collaboration follows previous successful stage projects supported by University of Northampton students, including productions like Footloose, Jesus Christ Superstar, Shrek, and The Addams Family.
