Theatregoers are being invited to pay what they decide after watching a new show from one of the UK’s top make-up artists.
A collaboration between Downtown Abbey, Warcraft and Florence Foster Jenkins’ Andrew Whiteoak and internationally acclaimed thespians Stan’s Café, Made Up comes to Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday 1 June.
“When I was approached by Stan’s Cafe to collaborate on Made Up, I was immediately intrigued and excited by how ‘live’ make-up applications could work within a story,” said Andrew, who has also recently worked on Disney’s 2017 live action Beauty and the Beast.
“My task was to design make-up and effects that can be applied fluidly around dialogue, which was a particular challenge in itself – But I believe we’ve created something truly unique.
“Having worked in theatre, film and television for over 22 years it’s nice to be able to reflect, analyse and inform about the trusted relationship an actor and their make-up artist have and filter this into a beautiful piece of theatre”.
Taking place in a Winnebago on a film set, Made Up is the story of the relationship between a young film star, Kate, and her make-up artist Sue.
Kate is beautiful but scared, putting on an act both in front of the camera and in her private life, while the older and possibly wiser Sue is attempting to cover up the cracks of her own unresolved issues.
Together their time together in the trailer has become their sanctuary and may be their one chance to make things right.
In developing the show artistic director James Yarker travelled to the North East to talk with groups of women, asking them about their relationship with make-up and what it means to them as a part of their daily ritual.
“A few years ago a student asked for a work experience placement in our make-up department,” said James.
“This request seemed ludicrous, as not only did we not have such a department but also in twenty plus years of making shows we had never once employed a make-up artist.
“However, it did set us thinking – What show would we make if we worked with a make-up artist? The answer is Made Up.
“It’s been fantastic working in rehearsals with Andy Whiteoak. Together we have built a sequence of make-up transformations that morph into each other over the course of 70 minutes.
“With the actors, we have then built our show around these looks. It seems like a backwards way of working but it is leading to some exciting ideas we would never have thought of.”
Bishop Auckland Town Hall hosts Made Up on Wednesday 1 June at 7.30pm.
And in a first for the venue tickets for the production are being offered on a “pay what you decide” basis – with audiences invited to reserve their seat prior to the performance, watch the play, and then pay what they decide after the show.
For more information or to book tickets call 03000 269 524, visit the website, www.bishopaucklandtownhall.org.uk or visit the box office in person.