Initial task-Oliver Messel

Costume Designer

Oliver Messel

Jodie Leek

Architectural, Interior, 3D Design

Semester 2

For my project I am to design headdresses for a production of GREASE, so I have researched headdress designers and I have found Oliver Messel, who was an English stage/ costume designer.

Messel was born 13th January 1904 and died 13th July 1978. After he finished his studies at Slade School of Fine Art, University College he became a painter but was then given the opportunity of theatre work. He began his successful career in theatre and costume design by creating masks for the London ballet performance of Zephyr et Flore in 1925. Through his designing career he created costumes, masks and sets, most of which are on show at the Theatre Museum in London.

He designed sets for famous memorable Broadway shows such as Romeo and Juliet in 1951. He also designed the costumes for other productions of Romeo and Juliet and GiGi in 1973.

During world war 2 Messel served as a Camouflage officer in Somerset, his duties were to use his creative design talents to disguise Pillboxes. Pillboxes were used in 1940, where concrete forts were placed strategically to avoid German invasions; these were commonly disguised as haystacks, cafes and ruins.

In 1953 the Oliver Messel suite was designed and created for the very unique elegant Dorchester Hotel in London. The suite consisted of a fantastic 18^th century fantasy style.

In 1946 Messel designed the sets and costumes for the famous ballet production of The Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky. It was the first ballet performance that was televised in color in America.

This is one of many productions that Oliver Messel designed for but it was the only one that stood out to me, as I think it had the most unique, extravagant headpieces.

This was the crown headpiece that was made for King Florestan in The Sleeping Beauty. This piece really stood out to me because it’s very effective and realistic. It appears old and worn. The materials used for this brilliant piece consisted of Metal, Leather, Wire, Braid, and Paper maché, Lurex, Rhinestone and Buckram, which were simply moulded and glued together. It has definitely inspired me to explore different materials that I could use for my designs.

I also think this piece stood out to me because of it being presented on a painted black model head with a black background, it definitely shows the radiant colour used. While worn on stage I imagine the lights will reflect it immensely to the audience. It has made me think a lot about the colour I will use in my headdresses. I will want to make sure the pieces stand out on stage to catch the audiences’ eye.  So not only has this piece made me consider the materials and techniques I could use but also how I can make the colour illuminate with the lights while being worn on stage, to appear more appealing to the audience.