One thing people don’t always see when they watch a show is everything that happens behind the scenes. The costumes, the props, the tiny details that help bring a story to life all take an incredible amount of time and care.
With 120 young people involved in this year’s productions of Hushabye and Chitty, that’s a lot of bodies to dress and a lot of costumes and props to create. Theatre can be expensive and we’re always mindful of keeping costs as low as possible for families. Quite simply, we couldn’t do it without our volunteers.
We have been overwhelmed by the support from parents and our local community, who have rolled up their sleeves and become part of our ‘Make It Crew’ (which initially started off as just tech and has grown. Their skills and willingness to get stuck in have made such a difference, and these productions wouldn’t be the same without them.
A special thank you goes to Kat, who has spent countless hours making props for the show. From the stunning Doll on a Music Box to the Hair Machine, dozens of aprons and, of course, the Toot Sweets, Kat’s attention to detail can be seen throughout the production. The amount of work that has gone into these pieces is incredible, and we know our audiences are going to love seeing them on stage. Images beautiful modelled by one of our very talented Truly actors.
A huge thank you also goes to Susan, who took on the challenge of creating the Baron and Baroness’s costumes. From those very first conversations and initial ideas, through to trying different designs and fabrics, Susan has helped bring these characters to life. More importantly, she has made sure our young people feel comfortable and confident in what they’re wearing, helping them step onto the stage ready to give a show-stopping performance.
When we are designing costumes and props, we always make sure to get feedback from the young people who are playing the roles. It feels so important that they have a say in what they are wearing or using on stage. That process doesn’t just shape the final designs, it also helps build confidence and ownership, meaning the performers feel fully connected to their characters when they step out in front of an audience.
And then there’s Mair George, who designed the iconic Doll on a Music Box costume for Potts and Truly. Mair has worked with Doorstep for many years and never ceases to amaze us with her imagination and creativity. Thinking outside the box is what we do best, and Mair embodies that perfectly. She always finds a way to take an idea and turn it into something unexpected and magical.
We also have to say a massive thank you to Phil and Ann, grandparents to one of our long-standing DAS members, who took on the challenge of designing and building Chitty herself. And Liv who painted the Chitty car!
From our very first conversations, we talked about the practicalities as much as the magic. The car needed to capture the iconic feel of Chitty, but it also had to work for our production – not too big, easy to move on and off stage, and something our cast could manage confidently during performances.
After weeks of planning, designing and building, we were absolutely thrilled to reveal the finished car to our DAS members last night. The reaction said it all. It’s perfect and exactly what we had hoped for.
Phil’s creativity didn’t stop there either. In the script, Truly rides a bike, but after doing some research and discovering that there were early versions of scooters around in 1910 (who knew!), he took that idea and ran with it. The result is Truly’s very own vehicle for the show – another brilliant example of how a little bit of research and imagination can bring something completely unique to the stage.
Every stitch sewn, every prop painted, every piece of scenery built and every idea shared has helped make these productions possible. Our volunteers have given their time and generosity, and because of them, 120 young people will have the opportunity to step onto the stage with incredible props and costumes.
The saying, ‘It takes a village’, couldn’t be truer. And our village is pretty incredible.
