Costumes, Props and Puppets
Hello !! This is me, Rebekah Joy Shirley in my Covid 'Self-Love' Project, with theatres closed I decided to make myself some outfits for a Valentine's day shoot. I made this costume out of found fabrics in my workshop and knitted the, 'Love Helmet' out of gifted wool. The Second Costume is my BB logo headdress made from Palm leaves and hand dyed feathers, the boiler suit is made from a vintage sheet and some scraps of fabric my Mum made a skirt from in the 70's.
Palm goddess headdress and floral mohawk for coco indie magazine.
Close ups...
Belle...A Tale as old as Time
Prince Charming
Cinderella and Buttons
Black adder
Felt Icing
Iced Chef
Belle and Lumiere
Brad Clapson: 'Fairy Cake' Beauty and The Beast SHP 2017
Twice a year I make costumes for theatre. I am the costume manager and manage the making of and hand-make myself, we produce well over 100 costumes per performance, they are well made and made to measure. The costumes need to endure 60 performances under lights and ALOT of action! (And washes) Photos are from rehearsals and not the finished costumes and there were many more not photographed sadly. I three tiered wedding cake, a bouncing igloo, an iced drill sergeant chef etc etc...
It's a wonderful chance to be creative and think differently about the way I approach making and designing for a couple of months. I absolutely LOvE seeing the costumes on stage at the end of it all... I work for SOUTH HILL PARK theatre in Reading with an incredibly hard working talented team. They blow my mind, their passion and stamina is second to non...
Here are some of the shows I have worked on since 2012:
MADAGASCAR, sell out show, 2018 and 1019
Dick Whittington, 2018
Beauty and the Beast 2017 Panto: Main Designer and maker for principle cast, ensemble designer. Full Costume budget Manager. (I heart spreadsheets) Manager of team of assistants.
Black Adder: Edmond, Blackadder II. 2017
Suessical 2017 Easter Show: Main Designer and maker for principle cast, ensemble designer. Full Costume budget Manager.
Cinderella Ball Gown, Buttons. 2016
Liberace 'Mirror Man' Sleeping Beauty 2015
Widow Twanky; Aladdin 2014
James and the Giant Peach: 2012 Full Principle Cast. Director Adam Stafford.
Unfortunately we don't really have a good portfolio of pictures but here are some.
Other experience,
2 years working for the Wig Workshop making wigs for 'The Lion King' musical. Pumba's were my speciality :) Really amazing technical hand-sewing, I learnt a lot there, again an incredible team.
Making motion sensor animation suits under Georgina Greathead GG Costumes. we made one for a horse, that was a highlight. I also worked on a number of exciting projects with Georgina, including dance wear for Rambert Contemporary Dance Company.
I make costumes and headdresses all year round, if you have a party or event you want to wear something special to, please contact with your request. I want to hear it :) I love it :)
Crow and Tree
Goat Mask for music video
Hog Mask
Momo the Christmas Turkey
White Rabbit for PAUL
Fabric Skeleton
Trotters