Feathers and Glitter and Fluff – oh my!

As usual, I became monstrously behind with my feature for Make-up Artist Magazine. I don’t know why as I only have to write three pieces a year. The problem usually lies in the nature of make-up in the West End (my remit.) On the face of it - if you will forgive the expression – there appears to be very little make-up on stage in the West End. Obviously there used to be the BIG make-up shows like Cats! and Starlight Express but of those glory days only Phantom of the Opera remains with Tanya Noor doing sterling work at the Prince of Wales Theatre. The problem lies in the productions themselves where all actors seem to be constantly told that 'Nobody wears make-up in theatre anymore.' Over the years I have seen all sorts of excuses for no make-up from budget cuts to (bizarrely) over-spending. Whatever the results please make a note of this statement -

YOU NEED MAKE-UP WHEN YOU APPEAR ON STAGE !!!

I review a lot of plays, seeing various budgets and I never (or rather rarely) comment on the look of the actors - there simply isn't time in my review. But so often I seen poor complexions, anachronistic eye-make and many other examples of the actors personal life slipping into the characters on-stage life.