COSTUME design is not simply a stage Catalina’s Sam Lloyd is going through.
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“Ever since I was four, I have been around stages,” the seamstress said.
She developed a love for all aspects of theatre growing up in England, but thought she would be a pathologist or police officer.
“I never realised I could do it (theatre) for a living,” she said.
Ms Lloyd's dream became reality when she studied and taught theatre at Croydon College, and became a freelance costume designer, working on productions for the likes of the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera.
She also performed and designed sets.
Ms Lloyd emigrated to Australia and moved to Batemans Bay in 2002 after marrying her Australia husband Martyn.
It didn’t take Bay Theatre Players long to take advantage of someone so skilled and enthusiastic.
“I had been in Oz for three days and they snaffled me to do wardrobe for Secret Bridesmaid Business,” she said.
Even though Batemans Bay is far removed from London, her love for the theatre, especially costume design, did not dwindle.
“I love playing with fabrics: the textures, the colours; developing the character through what they are wearing,” she said.
“It is a lot of fun, but hard work.
“They are a great bunch of people and you have a lot of freedom.
"You get to direct your own shows.”
A shoestring budget tests her imagination and resourcefulness.
“It challenges your creativity,” she said.
“We buy fabrics from the op shop and we have used bed sheets, curtains – anything goes.
"We even used a wetsuit in making the Tin Man’s costume in the Wizard of Oz.”
Her favourite era for costumes is the 1930s.
“There was an elegance back then,” she said.
“Society changed, post-war.”
Being involved in took time, but Mrs Lloyd is okay with that.
“If it is your hobby, your passion, you always find time to do it,” she said.
The Bay Post/Moruya Examiner profiles the hobbies of people in our community each week in the feature, ‘Get on your hobbyhorse’. Do you have an interesting hobby? Email journalist Josh Gidney at josh.gidney@fairfaxmedia.com.au or phone him at 4472 6577.