Sequins and lace: behind the scenes look at making the costumes for La Traviata
- Hurn Court Opera
- Mar 27
- 2 min read
The stunning art deco costumes you will see on stage in La Traviata this spring have been created from start to finish by talented third year students of the BA (Hons) degree in Costume at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) .
It has been a challenging but invaluable experience for the young costume makers, who share their thoughts with us here:
“The opportunity to work with Hurn Court Opera has been a wonderful experience. From the making process to the final alterations, I have had an amazing time working on the production of La Traviata," says Amelie Davis.
“Despite the long hours of sequinning, I had an overall exciting 10 weeks of developing my skills in making and meeting new people. Making for opera has its challenges, as costumes have to fit comfortably enough for the actors to take deep breaths and sing those magnificent high notes!
“With the help of the staff at AUB and the cooperation of the Hurn Court Opera team, the dress turned out beautifully. I’m excited to see my costume being worn and performed in across the South Coast - so much so, I will be attending the Christchurch show on my birthday!”
The stunning black ballgown made by Amelie Davis
Fellow student, Katie Goodson, said: "Being involved in Hurn Court Opera has been a really interesting and rewarding experience. I worked on three dresses in total (two for Annina and one for Violetta) which meant I was constantly balancing different pieces at once. This was a great challenge, as I was able to apply techniques I developed on one dress to another, strengthening my skills and confidence throughout the process.
"One of the most exciting aspects was designing and creating Violetta’s dress using a fabric I printed myself at university. The print was inspired by tuberculosis, subtly foreshadowing her fate. From a distance, it appears almost floral, which allows the design to remain understated rather than overly literal. This conceptual approach was something new for me and made the process feel much more creative and personal.
"The project was also highly collaborative, which I really enjoyed. I worked closely with other makers, received support from my supervisor, and even had elements like buttons handmade by the modelmaking department. Being able to fit the costumes on the performers themselves added another layer to the experience and made the work feel very real and purposeful."
Dresses made by Katie Goodson
Hurn Court Opera would like to thank all of the students and tutors involved in making the costumes for La Traviata.
You can see these beautiful costumes and more when La Traviata opens at The Regent in Christchurch on 16 April, followed by performances at the Coade Hall, Bryanston (18 April) and Theatre Royal, Winchester (20 April).
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