Betty is a material girl – she created costumes from trunks of scraps
Director Alex set ‘the Romany look’ and retired teacher designed, made and dressed the cast of one of biggest shows in Scarborough stage history
Retired teacher Betty Melbourne’s role as costume designer and maker has been a gargantuan challenge – especially as it is her debut in the backstage role She has designed and made costumes for the more than 35 cast members of The Hunchback of Notre Dame – the first full production for Scarborough Theatre Company – and one of the biggest shows seen in the town for decades.
Since January she has ‘dressed’ the 21 actors and 16 choristers bringing the musical, based on the Disney film and Victor Hugo’s novel, to life.
Betty has also cut, stitched, sliced, hemmed, studded, corseted and sewn on a budget.
The majority of the material was found in two trunks found in the company’s costume store in West Street, Scarborough.
“The chests were full of material that had been donated over the past 50 years,” said director of the show and founder of the company Alex Weatherhill.
He set ‘the look’ for Hunchback – the story of Quasimodo, the keeper of the bells of the cathedral, who falls in love with the beautiful Esmeralda.
“In the original production, it starts with everybody dressed as monks and then they take off their robes and become the characters,” said Alex.
“I wanted to change that and make this whole thing about an experience for the audience from the moment they walk in.
“One of the major sets of people in it is the Romany community. I wanted to tell it from their perspective and travelling, storytellers. So they set off in Romany gear.
“I also thought how brilliant it would be if we could use that material to create a make-d0-and-mend travelling-theatremakers’ vibe,” he said
For Betty, it was being like a kid lest lose in a sweet shop. “I got all this material home, laid it out, sliced it up and sewed it back together, I had a whale of a time,” she said.
Betty, who moved from Derbyshire to Bridlington three years ago, met Alex when she joined Coastal Voices, the Bridlington-based choir he directs.
“I cannot do without a choir,” she said. Betty had made patchwork bags Alex admired who then approached her to make costumes for a Sister Act number.
“I made costumes for my daughters when they were at dance school but I have never done anything on this scale,” she said.
For Hunchback she put together a ‘little black book’ which has the names, photographs measurements and costume details of each member of the cast.
She has created swirly skirts, floaty scarves, corsetted tops, regal robes and patchwork waistcoats.
One of the noble’s coats is made from a thrown-away set of curtains, Esmeralda has a circular skirt and Betty made a hoodie for Quasimodo.
A cheese grater and bleach were applied to his waistcoat to make it look more distressed.
Other cast members have joined in – an equivalent of a company sewing bee.
Betty designed and made a choir cape – then assembled packs including material, patterns and instructions to hand out to members of the cast.
Alison Robertshaw knitted chain mail from silver wool and then also put together
packs to hand.
Rehearsals for the Hunchback of Notre Dame have been taking place under Alex’s direction at Scarborough College.
It is the story of Quasimodo, the deformed, disfigured and deaf bell ringer at the Parisien Notre Dame cathedral, who falls in love with the beautiful gipsy Esmeralda.
The songs in the Disney score include A Guy Like You, Out There, Topsy Turvy and Someday.
Of course, the Hunchback of Notre Dame is special to Scarborough because of its connection to one of its most famous sons, Charles Laughton, who was born at what is now the Old Vic pub/hotel.
One of Hollywood’s f inest actors and brightest stars, Oscar-winner Laughton played Quasimodo to great acclaim in the 1939 film version of the novel.
In Scarborough Theatre Company’s production of the show Kian Moore, a B-Tec drama student, steps into the role.
He will be familiar to fans of YMCA shows including Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
“As a company that is trying to engage with everybody in the town, one of the things is that people who are really good go off to drama school and can you get a slice of them before they disappear – that is what I am trying to do with Kian,” said Alex.
Returning to the local acting scene is Amy Hunter, who plays Clopin. Amy comes fresh from performing professionally for various holiday companies around the UK–and two festive seasons in an igloo in Lapland.
She was last seen on stage in Scarborough in a production of Footloose in 2011.
“I’m excited to return to my roots here in Scarborough and bring the different sides of this character alive,” she said.
Amy is training to be an early years practitioner at Little Owls, Scarborough College’s preschool.
Usually played by a man, Amy takes on the role of Clopin, saying: “It’s scary but exciting, to change the gender and turn things upside down.”
Also in the cast is Connor Canvess, who has appeared in Oklahoma and Mr Cinders at the YMCA, and newcomer Nicole Wade as Esmeralda.
Performing arts co-ordinator and head of music at Scarborough College Preparatory School Martin Richardson plays Judge Frollo and 12 students from Coventry University play the saints and gargoyles – Quasimodo’s friends and advisors.
Alex leads four rehearsals a week – including a four-hour session each Sunday.
Scarborough College has been generous in providing rehearsal space.
Because the central character of Quasimodo is deaf, the company has been working with the Scarborough and District Deaf Society.
It has had workshops in sign language from Paul Whittaker who was born deaf and yet has pursued a music career.
He has also worked as a theatre, opera and concert interpreter, working on shows such as Les Miserables and West Side Story.
There is no doubting Alex’s vision is ambitious, it is also exciting, inclusive and could be epic – resulting ina production the town has not seen the like of since the outdoor musicals at the old open air theatre.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is on at the Queen Street Methodist Central Hall from Wednesday May 18 to Saturday May 21. Tickets: https://www. ticketsource.co.uk/