Hats and the Theatre

Mrs Shirley Whitfield talked to the members about her working life making hats and theatrical costumes. She started her apprenticeship in London at L&H Nathens, theatrical costumers established in 1790 situated off the Haymarket in London. She has made costumes and hats for television and the Theatres including Covent Garden ballet and opera productions .She talked about when she renewed the ermine collars from the pageantry outfits (Lords and regal dress) and replaced with rabbit, and  films where she created costumes for the artists to wear. She eventually moved with her husband to Nottingham and she went to work at the Nottingham Playhouse as Wardrobe mistress and she bought a selection of hats which she had made during her working life