Some kids love theatre, but sew what.
Well actually, they can sew a number of things just the way real costume designers do.
A professional drama designer will show them the ropes - ropes that are thin as threads - with a special summer camp hosted by Theatre Northwest.
TNW is going to haul their collection of sewing machines and costume materials out into their spacious lobby where kids will gather to learn one of the supportive arts behind their performance art. They will learn sewing, but with an emphasis on stage costumes.
The leader of the camp is Suzanne Marriott, a professional costume designer from England. She has expertise in a range of fine arts, starting with attaining a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Costume and Textiles from the University of Huddersfield, then a career that dressed everything from actors to furniture.
Due to family lifestyle choices, she has newly arrived as a resident of Prince George and was quickly hired by TNW to be their chief of costumes.
"She's a local now, it's great, she is a great addition to the theatre community of Prince George," said TNW artistic director Jack Grinhaus. "She'll be working with these youngsters in this camp setting and I think how could this not be really fun? As a theatre company, we want to give vitality to these local artists and technicians who have the skills and talent right here in this area and she is now one of those here within Prince George. It's great to sometimes bring in people from other parts of B.C. or across Canada, that helps lift up the local industry by bringing in different perspectives, that's certainly important, but it is also important to put local talents into action."
Marriott said the chance to share her skills to kids in her new community was an idea she couldn't pass over.
"I am very driven to achieve new goals and adventures in Canada. I am inspired by the feeling of space, the people and the wilderness and enjoy making my home here," she said.
"I am a passionate seamstress and creator. I believe that the skills involved in my craft are becoming increasingly rare. I am very proud to be qualified in this area and I enjoy sharing my knowledge and love of this work with others."
Grinhaus said theatre camps are almost always centred on actors. Most communities have camps or other hands-on day courses for kids in the summer, but they are usually themed on sports or science or outdoors activities. This one - sewing for theatre - is unique.
"We want the kids to have fun, and we think a lot of young people enjoy sewing but don't get to do it in this kind of way, but another reason for us doing this camp is to show the community that theatre is not just about acting and directing. It is made up of a lot of different kinds of arts like carpentry, like sound and lighting, and a really important one is sewing," Grinhaus explained.
"Costuming is critical, and for most plays, if it's working, you don't even notice it. In a play like Alice In Wonderland or A Christmas Carol, the costumes are a central part of the presentation, but for a play like The Girl In The Goldfish Bowl the clothes the characters wear are just supposed to look like clothes but still be a part of the storytelling process, so ever so slightly (the character of Mr. Lawrence) is dressed in clothes that are too big so he is swimming in them," which fits into the concept of that character being a fish out of water in the story.
Grinhaus said TNW has a national reputation for selecting strong actors, and designing imaginative sets, but "we take a lot of pride in our costumes, and this will maybe spark some more attention for that. It has a profound impact on the audience's experience of the show."
At Northern FanCon this year, the event organizers and the provincial government partnered on a new feature called Creative Corner where a section of the festivities was devoted to the niche trades of the performing arts.
Workshops and discussions were conducted by crew stars like costume designer Alissa Swanson, prop builder Aaron Harrison, sound and music guru Ken 'Hiwatt' Marshall, and others. This sewing camp at TNW is the latest in that effort to spotlight the industries within the industry, the arts behind the art, the fulfilling jobs that go on behind the scenes.
"The kids will get to go home at the end of each day with a new set of lifelong skills," said Grinhaus. "They will also, hopefully, also pick up the inspiration to think about costuming and design and sewing as a possible profession. Part of it is teaching a tangible skill and part of it is opening their imaginations to future possibilities."
There are eight sessions on offer. Each one is a five-day term, three hours per day. Cost is $250 per five-day camp, with all machines and materials provided.
The age range is 11-18 but Grinhaus said "hey, look, if you have a 10-year-old who's been learning sewing since they were five, or if you've got an older youth who wants to maybe take this in university, well we aren't going to split those hairs. We want to spark that interest. We will take those kids in."
The first session starts July 17 and the last day is Aug. 21. There are morning and afternoon options. For more information or to sign up online, go to the TNW website.
