Working for the show 'Hedda Gabler': My work in Pop-art, Millinery and Graphics

The last few weeks have been busy preparing for our opening of the show Hedda Gabler, which is tonight.

My wish to learn the skill of lightboard operator came with this show - I will running the light and sound boards - the lights of which I also designed. I am a little bit of a tech-head, so I picked it up quickly and enjoyed it. It's interesting to see the effects and moods you can create using dramatic lighting it really can transform the space. I designed light to create hours of the day for this show - early morning and evening. I learnt to program preset lights into the board which is very useful for light changes. The sound board at the Teatro L'Archiliuto is a much newer and better quality piece of equipment than the one we used for the last show, Under The Overcoat.

One of the requirements of my painting was that it had to look like the actress who was playing Hedda. This was so that the link between the two would be easy to make. To achieve this, I took a photo of Aleshiya and edited in photoshop so that she had more masculine features. This was a challenge. I then added a general's outfit on to her and used this digital image to draw out the shapes for my painting. 

The reason the digital images looks very different is due to the fact that the director requested that the face be more stern and looking forward. I was required to make the necessary changes to create the desired impact. 

"The portrait of the general that stares out and follows you around the room"

Though not one of my best paintings, I am pleased with the outcome. Pop-Art is not my favourite style yet I feel I managed to capture the crisp lines that make it so recognisable.


Here is the first steps of the fascinator, I used feathers from what seems like an old burlesque style, feather pom pom which I bought from a gypsy at the market... It really is fantastic! The feathers are black with that twinge of green and blues depending on the light. I have a feeling it will make an appearance in my final year project somehow.. There are lots of feathers to adorn garments/art with and it will fit nicely with the nature theme of my work.

Using knowledge of fascinators from my first year at university

Gaby left it to me to design the promotional posters for this show, instead of going to the paid professional who usually does them. This gave me a good feeling, I am confident in my ability to create a visually effective poster.

The first poster was creating using a photo taken by the director to provoke underlying themes in the show… He likes getting a reaction for Italians and over here this photo certainly does that! The poster looks far from innocent and certainly has slightly sexual imagery. The Italians also have very strong views on violence to women (it looks like the gun is pointed by someone else however, it is actually her own hand) so it is quite controversial. 

Due to the other poster being a little too 'explicit' for certain promotional uses, Gaby requested that created a second suitable for the Italian magazines etc. I manipulated an image and changed more than enough to comply with copyright laws, this has inspired me to create an image from scratch next time. If I could improve my ability to do it would be a good skill to have not only for creating poster graphics, but also for fashion designs and illustrations. I think it's time to get back on illustrator because I think with a little practice I could nail it!

Aside from owning the English Theatre of Rome, Gaby runs a drama club at the John Cabot University. The students will be performing 'Nine', a story which follows Guido, a director and his relationships with all the women in his life. It is based on a film called 8 and a half, which is a very interesting Italian black and white film. It's quite unusual and the clothes are also fantastic. It also was good for my Italian watching a subtitled Italian film. I have been looking into the fashion worn in the film and will also be looking at Federico Fellini films and avante garde for inspiration.

I am really excited for his show. I will have more free reign for it than I have had for Hedda as Gaby is much more relaxed with decisions. Daniel, the director for Hedda Gabler is very certain about what he wants and has taken it upon himself to do most things. I think we are slightly similar in personality!

To support my work for Nine, I will to create my own research document on fashion through different eras. I am not sure yet what format I would like to do it in. I work very well digitally so I think I'll create A4/A3 boards on Photoshop, have them printed and then add texture and samples to them.