Fashioning the art of ballet wear

Feb 2 2010 by Liz Lamb, The Journal

THE Scottish Ballet takes over the Theatre Royal in Newcastle tomorrow with an eye-catching production of The Nutcracker. LIZ LAMB goes backstage to delve into the wardrobe of a show that has a staggering 165 costumes.

"It can get hectic sometimes backstage. If a dancer has an injury then someone else might have to take on the extra role so they might be one character then run off stage to get changed into another costume for another character then run off stage again and become something else.

"It’s fast and furious when that happens."

Jackie Hallett has been creating costumes for the Scottish Ballet for over 15 years from her workshop in South Gosforth.

The costume maker, who also works for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Ballet, created eight men’s costumes for The Nutcracker.

She says: "This is the third time the show has been put on so over the years I have been involved in all of the men’s costumes.

"This year I created costumes for the orchid men.

"The designer will send me sketches and references and he will do drawings of what he sees the costumes to be and he will give me references on the production too such as when it is set.

"I then make up the costumes so that dancers are able to move in them properly.

"Ballet costumes are very technical. The dancers are extraordinary creatures, they don’t have bodies like anyone else in the human race so you have to accommodate for that.

"They have to be able to do side splits at the drop of a hat and most modern dresses won’t let you do that so the garments have to be technical, you have to build them."

Claire Robertson is principal dancer for the Scottish Ballet and is well used to wearing elaborate outfits and making quick costume changes.

She says: "The costume I wear as Marie at the beginning of the production is young and cute, and that’s essential for this role. It has an almost square design and it doesn’t show off your waist, so it makes you feel really young."

"The costume Marie wears when the Nutcracker comes to life and she first dances with him is a long white nightdress, which feels more feminine and pretty. It has a lot more shape to it, and I wear my hair down for this section, and this let’s the audience see that Marie’s beginning to grow up, that she’s becoming more mature."

"The costume at the end of the production is a real princess costume. It’s a beautiful pink and white tutu which really sparkles and I wear it with a tiara which captures the light beautifully."

The Scottish ballet’s anniversary tour of The Nutcracker appears at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, from February 3-6. Evenings: 7.30pm, Thursday Matinee: 2pm, Saturday Matinee: 2pm) Tickets are £9.50-£35 and can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk