IT’S BEHIND YOU! ‘It’ being our sensational makeup artists, who crafted show-stopping creations for a whole week of sold-out performances of ‘Kinky Boots’ at The Core Theatre Solihull.
“We were approached by Solihull on Stage for their production of ‘Kinky Boots’,” said Pam Sunnar, Lecturer for Theatrical Media Makeup. “We were asked to help create drag makeup looks for the Angels. The students were given the task of designing and executing the looks for their assigned Angel, and as you can see the looks produced were excellent.”
Bravo, bravo! We’re very proud – our students were perfectly cast for this experience. They set up their backstage base hours in advance each night to put all they have learned into action – eye makeup, contouring, lips, lashes and more. All with lots of laughs and diva banter flying around from the cast!
They became a well-oiled machine thanks to three weeks of preparation: designing with face charts, testing on the cast / themselves, and watching the dress rehearsal to see how the makeup plays under the stage lights.
The Solihull on Stage crew were thrilled with the quality and speed of work – every minute is important on a show of this size, with sounds checks, costumes and wigs waiting to go. It was art to see each character come to life, with it being a beautiful mask of confidence for the cast.
Kaylee, a student, said: “It was such a good experience. At the dress rehearsal we stayed behind to check how the make-up looked on stage. I was in awe watching the video feed of the stage that’s in the makeup room. I’ve never been to the theatre before and it’s magic.”
“The Media Makeup students are constantly taking part in work experience,” said Lecturer Pam. “I am a firm believer that this type of experience is an integral part of the student’s development as makeup artists.”
Indeed, many of these brilliant students also helped out at the BCH Fashion Show in March, a ‘Dick Whittington’ panto in January and the Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham last year. Our Media Makeup courses come with loads of local work opportunities, opening the door to exciting contacts and opportunities across industries.
So, encore, encore! Keep tabs for their next showing.
Want to help paint the town red on a Media Makeup course at South & City College Birmingham? Learn how to create show-stopping looks for the performing arts, with annual shows and real entertainment industry experience.