Each month we’re catching up with a different Head of Department at NIDA, to show you the artist behind the creative leader. August is the turn of NIDA’s Head of Costume, Annette Ribbons, who teaches across the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Costume, Design for Performance and Properties and Objects.
Photo:Annette Ribbons, (far left) with BFA (Costume) students wearing their corsetry, cutting, millinery and shoemaking classwork in NIDA’s Costume workshop
Each month we’re catching up with a different Head of Department at NIDA, to show you the artist behind the creative leader. August is the turn of NIDA’s Head of Costume, Annette Ribbons, who teaches across the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Costume, Design for Performance and Properties and Objects.
Annette has cut and supervised for companies such as Opera Australia, Bell Shakespeare, Sydney Theatre Company, The Really Useful Theatre Company and Bazmark, and has worked on costumes as diverse as Dark City’s leather clad underworld to Strictly Ballroom‘s sequins and feathers.
Born and trained in the UK, Annette freelanced as a costume cutter and maker for many British theatre companies before she travelled to Australia. It was her expertise in cutting, using the draping method on a mannequin, which drew her to the attention of NIDA’s Sue Osmond as it was not then being taught in many Australian fashion or costume courses.
‘The process of working directly on the mannequin with a piece of fabric is very sculptural,’ Annette says, ‘and it works really well in a theatre or costuming environment where you’re trying to communicate with a designer. To be able to play with fabric on the mannequin as you are creating the patterns is really helpful- you can workshop ideas as you go so the designer can have a lot of input early on.’
After teaching her first cohort of NIDA students, Annette says she enjoyed sharing her skill with talented people and that NIDA offered great potential to collaborate.
‘In the UK, the course I did was not attached to a drama school so to be within an environment where you’ve got all the other disciplines was, and remains, so exciting – there’s a lot more input from all the different areas, you can collaborate and it inspires everyone to do more.’
What does Annette see in the future of costume cutting and making for performance?
‘Digital printing, 3d printing and laser cutting to enhance our work is something I’m keeping a close eye on-we haven’t fully explored these techniques and I’m trying to find a bit more space in our curriculum to do that. Now that we have a fabric digital printer, a 3d printer and a laser cutter, we’re doing more. The future will increasingly include creating fabric prints as we did for NIDA’s recent Ex Machina production.’
Photo:BFA (Costume 3) students photographed to present their 1880s ladies afternoon tea ensemble with a fitting historical backdrop
When asked what her favourite part of working at NIDA is, Annette says it is the final-year students’ presentations.
‘It’s because that’s the climax of their education – completely what they are interested in, they direct it with a bit of guidance. When the first years see those presentations, they think ‘there is no way I can do that’ but by the time they’re in third year they can do it and it just shows their development and maturity. I’m always really proud of that.’
And what about when NIDA showcases its students work with five productions in one week each June and October?
‘Tech week, before we open, is a massive week to ten days, for my department. We start at 9am and go through till 11pm. I’m there to support them, mentor and guide them as you never know what’s going to come up.’
Annette has a golden piece of advice for someone considering studying costume at NIDA:
‘Make sure what you really love about costume is the making, collaborating and problem solving with designers. The satisfaction gained from the realization of a one dimensional design to a finished costume on stage is thrilling.’
Read more about Annette Ribbons here.
Applications are now open for all 2019 NIDA courses including Bachelor of Fine Arts in Costume, Design for Performance and Properties and Objects courses. Details and information on how to apply here.
