NIDA’s Diploma of Screen and Media (Specialist Make-up Services) students gained valuable hands-on experience into the world of opera wigs and makeup recently at the Sydney Opera House.
Photo above: Students learn about the make-up application process for Opera Australia’s 2018 production of Rigoletto.
Photo below: Opera Australia’s 2018 production of Rigoletto (Photo credit: Prudence Upton)
NIDA’s Diploma of Screen and Media (Specialist Make-up Services) students gained valuable hands-on experience into the world of opera wigs and makeup recently at the Sydney Opera House. Andrew Keshan, Head of Performance Wigs & Makeup with Opera Australia, passed on his expertise during the day-long workshop. Andrew demonstrated the processes required for the makeup and hair department to function and provided valuable insight into employment as a make-up artist in the Australian entertainment industry.
Verdi’s Rigoletto is currently being performed as part of Opera Australia’s winter season. During the workshop Andrew explained the maintenance involved on the wig worn by the character as well as other wigs across the season. All wigs are carefully maintained by the Opera Centre’s Manufacturing Wigs department. The make-up application process for Rigoletto was also discussed as this character is required to remove their make-up whilst on stage.
‘Andrew Keshan went into great detail about the different productions he’s done and some of the challenges he’s faced, logistical and otherwise,’ said student Annabel Cameron.
Annabel, currently studying on the Diploma of Screen and Media (Specialist Make-up Services), has a strong family connection with the Sydney Opera House. Her grandmother, Shirley Germain, was Opera Australia’s wig-mistress for 38 years and her grandfather, John Germain, was a revered performer for almost 40 years, singing many of the great Baritone roles. Annabel said: ‘It was really cool to see the place that I’ve seen in old photos of my grandmother, and know that my grandfather had performed many times on the stage I stood on.’
Applications are now open for all NIDA courses including Vocational Diploma of Screen and Media (Specialist Make-up Services) for 2019. Details and information on how to apply here.