Soft Props
Props | Scenic Art | Castings | Soft Props
In this section there are examples of Beckie’s upholstery, sewing and pattern making, puppet making and other fabric work. She has created all kinds of soft props from puppets, hats, remaking horsehair sofas and creating pantomime style frying pans to embroidered tree branches and little fluffy clouds.
Upholstery
Props | Scenic Art | Castings | Soft Props
The leatherette sofa was an old horsehair sofa that needed restuffing and all panels, piping, cushions and buttons remaking. It was used for Pilot’s 2006 production of ‘East is East’. The red sofa was also recovered for ‘East is East’ which was designed by Laura Mc Ewan. The wicker chair was reupholstered in Laura Ashley fabric for Terms of Endearment, at York Theatre Royal, performed in 2007 and designed by Julie Godfrey. The white chair was adapted by Beckie for the torture scene in ‘1984’, designed by Catherine Chapman at York Theatre Royal.
Berwick Kaler’s Pantomimes
Props | Scenic Art | Castings | Soft Props
Harry the ventriloquist dummy was used in ‘Cinderella’ and was based on Harry Gration. A lot of the work for pantomimes are ‘soft props’ ; due to the nature of the use of props- many fall down and ‘hit’ the actors, like the copper coloured foam warming pan shown here. The boxing glove was used in Cinderella in 2006. It was 800mm in length and used in the slosh scene so had to be waterproof, washable, durable as well as soft enough to not cause too many problems with the actors onstage when it ‘punched’ them…The Frog puppets and the folding Lilypads were made for the UV scene in the 2009 pantomime ‘Humpty Dumpty’ at York Theatre Royal.
Tutti Frutti
Props | Scenic Art | Castings | Soft Props
Silly Billy is a hand puppet made for Tutti Frutti for their children’s show of the same name, first performed in 2007. Beckie also painted the set for this beautiful children’s show designed by Alison Heffernan. The chicken was for ‘Jack’ produced by Tutti Frutti in 2006. Its head was to be animated by an actor and it was to lay golden eggs. This was again designed by Alison Heffernan. ‘The Girl Who Lost Her Smile’ was another Tutti Frutti production in 2006 designed by Catherine Chapman. The picture shows a blue backcloth with an Arabic curved set piece centre stage. It was a small touring show for which Beckie painted the backcloth and main set piece as well as making the fabric tree branch shown in the top right of this picture
Puppets
Props | Scenic Art | Castings | Soft Props
The egg head puppet was for York Theatre Royal’s youth theatre, the worm in the plastazote pie was for ‘Cinderella’. The owl was for ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ 2001 York Theatre Royal . The other two puppets were used in workshops in Birmingham and based on Faulty Optic’s two man puppets.
Other Work
Props | Scenic Art | Castings | Soft Props
The main picture is from ‘Rabbit and the Hedgehog’ produced by York Theatre Royal in 2008. Beckie painted the floor and back cloths, made the ‘floating’ clouds, painted the tree, made the leaves, rocks and the pond. The hat and ears were for ‘The Hare and the Tortoise’ 2007, York Theatre Royal. The bowler hat was painted with tortoise print. The two sets of costumes were made for Midsommer Actors outdoor theatre company, ‘As You Like It’ and ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ 1995
Whatever Next
Props | Scenic Art | Castings | Soft Props
Beckie painted the set, furniture and props for the 2010 Tutti Frutti/York Theatre Royal production of 'Whatever Next'. She also made the Owl puppet. The show was designed by Barney George and based on Jill Murphy's popular children's book of the same name. The Owl's eyes had to shut, his head had to turn right round and his wings had to fall into a flying position easily. He also had to support his own weight. The actor operated him behind his head and with his/her hand in the 'claws'.
Bea
Props | Scenic Art | Castings | Soft Props
Bea was produced at Soho Theatre in 2010, written and directed by Mick Gordon. The design was by Alice Woodward. Beckie made and uphostered the headboard, mattress, and bedsheets and duvet cover for the oversized bed that was the main set for a hard hitting play about a young girl tackling an incurable illness
