Reviving La Traviata

Linbury Prize finalist, Faye Bradley, is a bright and emerging set and costume designer, with some already impressive credits to her name. We caught up with her as she makes a start on her next project - reviving the set and costumes for our production of La Traviata at the Tricycle Theatre, London. 

For information about upcoming performances, seeLa Traviata's production page. 

Faye Bradley - revival set and costume designer for La Traviata

Tell us a bit about yourself...

I trained at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. I was a finalist for the Linbury Prize for Stage Design, working with the English Touring Opera. My designs were exhibited at The National Theatre. I completed a traineeship with the English National Opera. I also received a bursary from the Royal Opera House and shadowed the designer Robert Jones for the production Andre Chenier. I have been nominated for an Off West End Award for her costume designs. 

What is the biggest challenge in being the revival costume designer for La Traviata?

The biggest challenge is probably to find 1920s men's clothing to buy not hire as it's easier to find the fancy flapper style dresses.

What are you most looking forward to working on with the show?

I'm most looking forward to sourcing beautiful 1920s clothing and to get to know the Opera Up Close team better as I have wanted to work with them for awhile.

Where do you normally source costumes from and what are your biggest tips for finding a bargain when working on a small budget?

I source a lot of clothing on eBay and from charity shops. My biggest tip for working on a small budget is quite a boring one, but to make a spreadsheet and do a rough estimate of all items before you start to see how far the budget is going to go! 

You can find out more about Faye Bradley through her website. Faye will also be the set and costume designer on our World Premiere production of Ulla's Odyssey at Kings Place in Autumn 2015.