RSC costume designer joins West Cheshire College

Nov 26 2009 by Gil Lightfoot, Chester Chronicle

RSC costume designer joins West Cheshire College

A designer whose work includes everything from the outfits for a competitor in the notorious 3,000 mile cross continent Gumball Rally to co-ordinating the costume department for the Royal Shakespeare Company has joined West Cheshire College as creative arts manager.

Lisa Trump has more than 15 years’ experience in the field of performing arts and has worked with stars such as David Tennant, Dame Judi Dench, Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen.

As a freelance costume designer Lisa worked for TV, theatre and film, ran a successful theatre company and collaborated on a variety of creative projects such as set design, script writing, puppet-making and directing.

But despite her extraordinary success, Lisa readily admits that as a young student she didn’t know what career path to follow. “It was only when a lecturer suggested that I try costume design that I actually realised you could pursue that as a career,” she says.

Lisa, who now lives in Chester, loves the variety her job has brought her. “When it comes to costume design it is obviously different for every single production,” she explains. “Sometimes you will be designing something very historically correct which involves a lot of research. I love that side of it. Other times you can let your imagination run riot. Some directors are very specific about what they want, others just let you play with it.”

Over the years, Lisa has also worked in education including the position of head of costume for The Arts Education School in Hertfordshire – an independent performing arts school whose past students include Jane Seymour, Thandie Newton and Caroline Quentin.

She finds her new role at the Ellesmere Port campus hugely exciting.

Lisa said: “My role here is to promote vocational education and training in performing arts, art and design, photography, retail, media, hairdressing and beauty therapy.”

She is working with course leaders at the college to ensure that the skills being taught reflect the needs of the creative industry and to help identify any skills gaps in order to develop new and innovative courses.

“We have a very diverse range of students here,” she says. “It is really exciting getting them involved with local companies, working on real projects, so they can see a real purpose for their work.”