This year, students from BA Costume for Theatre and Screen were given a very special opportunity to work behind the scenes for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration Show.
Days of hard work culminated on 15 May, where an extravagant show of dance, light and music played before a huge crowd and a live television audience from Windsor Castle.
A number of students applied their talents to what was a paid work placement, including costume designers Karolina Borysiuk and Orla Owens.
“We had to be very focused”, said Karolina and Orla. “Attention to detail was very important. Every button had to be in place and correctly stitched, as the performance was going to be broadcast live. We were prepared because this is what we’re taught in our practice. We’re told to make everything as good as it can be. No loose threads or anything!
“Doing the placements is really helpful, because it’s the first time you realise what you’re capable of. In practice you learn and repeat the skills and become adept, but once you’re out in the field you really realise what’s in your toolbox, and it’s just a matter of knowing what to do in a given situation.”
“We got so much confidence from the placement. We made suggestions which were actually listened to by the team, even though we were like, ‘We’re complete nobodies!’ The actors didn’t even know we were students, they all thought we were professionals, which was so nice to hear. Going into 3rd year, it’s great to have that bit of experience and the confidence that goes along with it.”
“I’ve always wanted to work in film,” Karolina said, “and because the Show was broadcast, I felt I picked up an idea of what it was like to work in that industry.
“We’re very lucky because Kevin (Kevin Freeman, Course Leader of BA Costume for Theatre and Screen) has a lot of contacts and spots opportunities for us, and then encourages us to go for it. He wants us to do well and wants us to get out there and apply what we’ve learnt in professional scenarios.
“We did fashion week as well, and after that we were receiving messages from the assistant designer for more placements. It goes way beyond the initial work a lot of the time and you end up making lots of contacts.”