I worked backstage as a makeup artist on a production of Die Fledermaus, staged at The Grange Festival in Alresford. The production formed part of a professional opera festival environment, requiring close collaboration with performers, wardrobe, and stage management teams.

The makeup design for Die Fledermaus leaned heavily into cabaret and theatrical aesthetics, demanding bold, stylised looks that could read clearly under stage lighting and across distance. This involved strong contouring, heightened colour, and exaggerated features appropriate to operatic performance, while still supporting character and period tone.

Working backstage required precision, speed, and consistency, particularly during quick changes and pre-performance preparations. Makeup needed to be durable for long performances, resilient under heat and lighting, and easily maintained throughout the show.

This role demonstrates experience working within live performance and operatic production, balancing expressive theatrical makeup with the practical demands of stage performance. It highlights adaptability across genres, from fashion and film to classical music and theatre, and the ability to execute character-driven makeup in high-pressure, time-sensitive environments.