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Roll out the Magic Carpet!

Friday, 13 September 2024 13:04

Disney’s hit Broadway and West End musical, Aladdin, lands in Southampton this month – and two Isle of Wight based Costumiers have been busy making outfits for the show

Prestigious costumiers, John Sheward and his partner David Collard, live and work in Ventnor making costumes for Disney Theatrical as well as other iconic theatre producers. Their work has stunned audiences all across the world, in shows such as The Lion King and The Beauty The Beast – and this month is set to take to the stage of Mayflower Theatre, as the curtain goes up on the new production of Disney’s Aladdin.

John and David help to bring the production to life, making vibrant costumes for iconic characters, including Genie, Iago and Jafar – some of which have a few tricks up their sleeves. Each costume was designed by Gregg Barnes for Broadway and interpreted and manufactured – a process which often takes around three months – by John and David, here on the Island.

A colleague at Disney said: “John Sheward is a costume legend. He has worked on many Disney shows. I worked with him on the original Hunchback in Berlin, along with him making costumes for the original Beauty, as well as Zazu, Timon, Pumbaa and Simba (The Lion King). “He is an astonishing talent – with him and his partner, David, they have worked in the background for Disney for so long. They are one of the creative backbones of Disney Theatrical since its inception.”

John and David’s upcoming projects include West End favourite, Moulin Rouge, and Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake. As well as for theatre productions, the talented pair have made costumes for film, television, opera and ballet – carving out successful careers in the industry. But they love the quieter pace of life here on the Island.

Moving here from Brixton 23 years ago, they told us what’s so special about the Isle of Wight: “There’s something to do every week. We love to be a part of the community. We can walk to wherever we want to be, whether it’s to pubs, restaurants, the sea, the countryside. It’s a mini-England.”

Disney’s Aladdin runs at the Mayflower Theatre from 5 September to 29 September.

(Aladdin images by Deen Van Meer)

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