Designer for Generation 21 – group 1 – FutureWorld,and her journey along the process to performance

Firstly I received a call from Carl asking me to supply accessories for the production. They were to be futuristic and suggest Robots.  I was not initially involved with the young people as I worked from home. I was told I did not need to attend workshops as there was not to be any making, so to look for futuristic looking necklaces and bracelets and things that would accessorise black clothes.
I had a meeting with Carl and Rachael when they asked me for more accessories such as:
Futuristic looking Ties (for the School Children)
Caps and wire mouth pieces for the Robot Police and Sunglasses  (They would get their own ties)
Remote control
Walking stick (I had one and some of the children put silver tape around it to make it look futuristic on the day of performance)
Thinking caps
Accessories for a group of Robots.
Pom poms and streamers for the carnival scene

I was also asked for some futuristic looking toys. I said I had access to hundreds of plastic balls so maybe they would do sprayed silver. Rachael mentioned stage set so I suggested they could maybe glue lots of these together to make mounds that could be placed on the stage.
I spent a couple of days out scouting through Sefton play council, poundland and other shops gathering things I thought would look futuristic.  I thought of various ideas for thinking caps but spotted some owl masks.. I thought as Owls are noted to be wise, that these would be ideal.
I bought some sliver necklaces and bangles and pom poms but could not find any shakers so I bought thin florists ribbon and some children's dressing up headdresses from poundland and spent an evening cutting the ribbon and attaching it to the headdressess as these were ideal handles. These also had a little skirt with them which I thought would be great for the children with learning difficulties to use in the carnival scene as they could wrap them around their wrists. (Rachael wore these on the show)

I saw some silver wigs which I thought were futuristic looking and called Carl to see if he could use them. He said they would do for the futuristic school children.
I brought the streamers, glasses and necklaces/bangles to Hope St to give to Carl so they could work with them in the workshops.
Various phone calls followed with updates of what was needed...i.e.
Futuristic Scanner
Two Air Stewardess hats
Two dresses for girls that were in the Time machine scene (one needed flowers/hat to look like she had been on holiday) these needed 2 pairs of sunglasses too
More thinking caps
More Scanners (I ended up using sink plungers sprayed silver)
Carl also asked for something that the school children could put on (sashes or something) that would look strange in as the time travellers would comment on their strange attire. I decided on some silver fabric, cut into yokes, for around their neck.
I had difficulty sourcing silver ties so I bought some silver fabric to cut into strips.
I found cheap caps in Tesco and decorated them with silver glitter (there were 14 of these)
I also found some silver florist mesh and used this as cuffs for the robots. I attached these with silver pipecleaners.

Rachael had also asked for glow sticks for other characters. (Poundland again)
I had also bought a silver car window sunscreen that I thought would come in handy (which it did when I found on the performance day that I had some extra robots). Would use this stuff again it was great. (Only a pound in poundland)
I sprayed loads of plastic balls and strung them together so they could be used as set but they were not needed.
Some were used as the futuristic toys though.
I went to one of the schools to try two dresses (Which I had in my prop box) on the young time travellers so I could take them in. I found some cheap black tights which I bought to complete this outfit and told the girls to wear their pe pumps (they forgot them). I also gave one of them thick pipecleaners to put in her hair, and bought a sunhat for the traveller...

I also brought along two red wigs of my own which were used for the Airhostesses
I was present at the performance and helped the 90 odd children adorn their accessories, with the help of Rachael (Thank goodness).  As usual, mad last minute makes and forgotten bits of costume, the robot police did not get their own ties which meant a bit of swopping round and really hectic day.
And as usual, all ended up well. (Phew!!).

Ronnie Kelly - Designer