'La Bella Dormente Nel Bosco' Opera

Spring Term, 2024

La Bella Dormente nel Bosco, also known as The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods, is an Italian fairy tale. It tells the story of a princess who is cursed by a wicked fairy to sleep for a hundred years after pricking her finger on a spindle. Despite efforts to avoid the curse, it takes effect, and the princess falls into a deep sleep. A dense forest grows around her castle, hiding it from the world. After a century, a prince discovers the hidden castle, wakes the princess with a kiss, and they live happily ever after.

Director: Caroline Clegg

Costume Designer: Amy Adair

Costume Assistant & Maker: Olivia Lewis, Natalia Hamlin

Set Designer: Jana Lakatos

Photographer: Kirsten McTernan

Assistant & Maker Process

I worked on this Production as a Costume Assistant, I made the 'Spider Capes' and 'Fairy/Nymphs dresses'.

Fairy & Nymph Dress

Wet 'Habutai Silk' for dyeing.
Heat water in a bucket with plenty of salt (to fix the dye).
Add dye pigment (Pink/ blue) to the bucket.
Put already wet silk into the bucket and allow to sit until you have reached desired colour.
Drain hot bucket of excess water, and spin dry your silk.
Hang up your silk and allow to dry.
Once dry cut to length of 3 meters.
Create simple neck hole, with pinking sheers.
Cut 2 diagonal lines from the hem, until 1/3 of the way from the neckline.
French seam the sides.
Pinking sheer the hem (for a floaty finish; as desired by designer).
Sinch at waist with rope.

Assisting & Dressing