SHAN NAIDOO

Local costumier celebrates 26 years of pattern-making.

Experienced costumier Shan Naidoo is well-known among the theatre community for her contribution to costuming for The Playhouse Company as well as for independent production companies such as MacBob Productions, Fantastic Flying Fish Dance Company and KickstArt. She also worked on Opera Africa productions such as Princess Magogo, La Traviata and Rigoletto.

“My love for pattern-making stems from a young age when I used to cut and make my own outfits as a teenager – just to be different,” she explains.

Born in Umzinto, Shan matriculated at Umzinto High School and went on to study towards a diploma in Art & Clothing design. She was introduced to theatre in her final year at college by well-known costume designer and lecturer, Lucille Cross, who took her to see Cinderella. She was fascinated and took up the offer of a job at the Playhouse with alacrity. This saw her moving from being an assistant to a ladies pattern cutter, then from petticoats to ladies’ costumes for an entire show.

She now has 26 years of pattern-making experience and is still enjoying every minute. Among the productions she has worked on are Cinderella, Once on this Island, Singin’ in the Rain, La Traviata, La Bohème, Winnie the Pooh (her favourite), Queen at the Opera, Nutcracker, Bravo!, Festive Season Extravaganza, My Fair Lady (2006) and Unforgettable (2008).

Apart from costumes for shows, she does speciality costumes for parties, mascots for teams and clubs as well as children‘s costumes for theme parties. “Kids just love to be in their favourite character costume,” she says. “It really makes them feel special.”

She also advises young women to have their matric dance outfits custom-made because it is not always easy to buy an outfit to suit the individual figure for these all-important events. “Every debutante wants her dress to be unique. It’s definitely cheaper to go this route and you would also be sure to be the only one wearing an outfit like yours. I usually assist with fabric, style and to make the deb’s ball dress special.”

So with a busy schedule surrounded by bridal wear, corporate costumes, mascots, ballet and Indian classical dance outfits, Shan’s life can be hectic. “I wouldn’t want to trade this for anything,” she smiles. “It’s all so exciting!”

Contact Shan Naidoo on 083 780 1292.