BA (Hons) Costume students from Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) have been busy creating an impressive 25 costumes for Hurn Court Opera’s latest production, La Traviata, which will show at theatres across the south of England this April.
La Traviata is a timelessly tragic tale of love, loss and societal expectation telling the story of Violetta, a high-class courtesan and her passionate love affair with the young nobleman, Alfredo. Based on the novel La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas and originally set in 19th century Paris, Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata enjoys a 1930s makeover in Hurn Court Opera's production.
Theatre director Joy Robinson explains, “Setting La Traviata in Paris in the 1930s renders it easier to have on the stage of the regional theatres we visit. All those 19th century crinolines would take up so much space! So it’s from a practical point of view that we are moving it to the '30s – but it’s also a time when we can still convey that notion of the ‘kept woman’ and that feeling of being in a demi-monde, a world living in the shadows.”
“It has been really exciting to work with Hurn Court Opera and get to fully develop my tailoring and alteration skills by making a three-piece suit for the production," says Carmel Gayle, who studies BA (Hons) Costume at AUB.
“I enjoyed the collaborative process and getting to work with other makers, my supervisor and the actor wearing the costume. It was quite a challenge at times due to the amount of time it took to complete the suit, but I am very proud of the outcome.
Fellow student Katie Goodson worked on a total of three dresses, which, as she explains, "meant I was constantly balancing different pieces at once. This was a great challenge, as I was able to apply techniques I developed on one dress to another, strengthening my skills and confidence throughout the process.
“One of the most exciting aspects was designing and creating Violetta’s dress using a fabric I printed myself at university. The print was inspired by tuberculosis, subtly foreshadowing her fate. From a distance, it appears almost floral, which allows the design to remain understated rather than overly literal. This conceptual approach was something new for me and made the process feel much more creative and personal.
“The project was also highly collaborative, which I really enjoyed. I worked closely with other makers, received support from my supervisor, and even had elements like buttons handmade by the modelmaking department. Being able to fit the costumes on the performers themselves added another layer to the experience and made the work feel very real and purposeful.
Amelie Davis, added, “From the making process to the final alterations, I have had an amazing time working on the external production of La Traviata.
“Despite the long hours of sequinning, I had an overall exciting 10 weeks of developing my skills in making and meeting new people. Making for opera has its challenges as costumes have to fit comfortably enough for the actors to take deep breaths and sing those magnificent high notes.
“With the help of the staff at AUB and the cooperation of the Hurn Court Opera team, the dress turned out beautifully. Overall, I’m exciting to see my costume being worn and performed in across the South Coast so much so I will be attending the Christchurch show on my birthday!”
This collaboration between Hurn Court Opera and AUB follows a successful production of Rossini's La Cenerentola last year, where AUB’s Costume students made ‘Bridgerton-style’ Regency dresses.
Senior Lecturer for BA (hons) Costume at AUB, Wayne Martin, says, “Our Costume degree teaches the mastery of couture, professional costume making, tailoring and supervision for both film and theatre.
"Working to a live brief from Hurn Court Opera, our third-year costume students have had a wonderful opportunity to create 1930s Art Deco costumes as well as collaborate with young artists from the world of opera.”
Featuring the timelessly beautiful music of Giuseppe Verdi and themes that are still painfully relevant today, La Traviata is perfect for both seasoned opera fans and those experiencing opera for the first time. It's a fully staged production with orchestra conducted by Lynton Atkinson and sung in Italian with English subtitles.
La Traviata opens at The Regent in Christchurch on 16 April, followed by performances at The Coade Hall, Bryanston on 18 April and Theatre Royal, Winchester on 20 April. Tickets are available from theatre box offices or by visiting Hurn Court Opera's website.
