MA Performance Design
Maria has worked nationally as a freelance scenic artist, designer and maker before specialising in performance design. She has a particular interest in sustainable theatre-making and project creation; helping to found Midlands-based eco theatre company, âB Teamâ. During her training at BOVTS, Maria was awarded the John Elvery Prize to recognise excellence in stage design.
Design credits for BOVTS include: The Three Seagulls (Bristol Old Vic), Chef (Wardrobe Theatre) and 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (digital production). Previous design credits include: Twelfth Night (York Theatre Royal Studio), The (Not So) Quiet Revolution of Kindness (Hubbub Theatre) and Slow Violence (B Team).
It was a timely opportunity to use our digital adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea to really highlight the pollution that is at an all time high in our oceans. It is quite literally a rip-roaring yarn with a sustainable focus and a ârubbishâ design! Created during Spring lockdown, directed and adapted by Toby Hulse. Performed by 2nd Year BA Acting students and available to watch here.
Chef explores the relationship between one woman, her love for food and the journey her recipes have taken her on. I focused on bringing to life the tactile nature of a [prison] kitchen and worked in the room with director, Imy Wyatt-Corner, and actor, Ruby Ward, to embody the emotion captured in each recipe. Chef was performed at the Wardrobe Theatre as part of the Directorsâ Playground season and was written by Sabrina Mahfouz.
The Three Seagulls is devised from three versions of Chekhov’s The Seagull by a company of our graduating actors, creative team and director, Sally Cookson. The main inspiration for my costume designs has been to represent each actor as an individual and break the traditional restraints of making theatre, making the text a timely commentary on our creative emergence from the pandemic! Tickets to watch The Three Seagulls are available here.