As a little tribute to the 2010-2011 London production of
Love never Dies.
Costume Design Bob Crawley.
Costumes worn at the very end of the Musicals run in 2011 after several changes to made to Mr Y/ The Phantoms costumes.
Thank you to Theatre Wardrobe department for the sale of these stage costumes.
I did enjoy this musical on its short run in London. Saw the show three times. Each time it seemed to change differences in costumes and lyrics. Never saw the show as a continuation of phantom but a stand alone show as I absolutely hated what happened to some of the most beloved characters from the brilliant original.
(Future Costume Plans. Ive got two more Phantom related costumes in the pipeline but they will be a long term build project’s Not going to give too much away but its going to be extensive 👀 )
If anyone has cosplay goals. This is it! 🔥 you can achieve anything and the end result will be worth the pain and the passion. Blood. Sweat and tears. End result. Perfection.
I’m NOT! Trying to romanticise this Character or make it sexy. That’s not what this is about. I just love the costumes of the show and enjoy the story and the various adaptations.
I am not trying to be the Best or trying to compete or be big headed. Cosplay is NOT! A contest. I just enjoy the costumes and the design that goes into the show. That is all!
I do NOT! Pretend I am the character. It’s just a costume nothing more and nothing less.
(Sadly the Fandom gets a little strange at times as I recently found out, Almost Ruined it )
I took a Six year Break away from Social Media, Musical Theatre and anything to do with costumes and dressing up. And the Fandom. It’s great to return, I’ve had some Phantastic conversations and met some lovely like minded people.
As a man who gets ridiculously bored of doing the same thing. And I grow tired quickly.
when the 2024 Cosplay season is over the costume will return to the wardrobe. But it’s been a Fun process and I’ve enjoyed it immensely.
Then I will do something else musical costume related but a different musical.
1.) Kieran Brown 2.) Brian McCann 3.) Simon Shorten. 4.) Stephen John Davies. 5.) Robert Adam Lewis. 6.) Luke McCall 7.) Nigel Richard’s. 8.) Nic Greensheilds
Photos I tried to upload too. Jeremy Seacombe, Richard Woodford. Trying to find an image of Greg Castiglioni as phantom anyone got any images. ?
I have Zero experience in make up or wigs. So this was very challenging for me. Watching various YouTube tutorials and watching the Highly talented @phantomonabudget (< Please follow this Amazing artist)
I tried First Time! myself to apply the prosthetic make up and Bald cap. Was very challenging. Took around one hour to apply. But it was a rushed job. Missed many stages.
(Phantom Prosthetic pieces from studio D FX, Bald Cap Kit from Mehron make up company. )
The Wig!
Again I have no experience in hair or wigs watching tutorials on YouTube on how to style and cut the lace. And some assistance from other Phantom cosplayers and wig makers on social media.
It was a lengthy process to try and make the wig look natural rather than a stuck down mess of gel. Was very tricky. Heat, hot comb. And time. Worked wonders.
(Wig from ‘wigs in fashion’)
I still have a long way to go but slowly getting there to the desired look. Basing my impression on the west end production 2000-2010.
The Costume so far…….. (I have no stage make up on in this video).
I now Have a cape! Thank you PLB for all your help! (The cape is based off an Opera Cloak/ Cape rather than the stage version with the arm loop bits. More like the restaged UK tour cape with the glass Jazzy bead work) based on a version of a late Victorian/Edwardian cloak Referenced from the V&A Museum.
Sadly still unfinished with a fair deal of work to do on it,
Items that need amending.
1.) Fedora needs a larger brim it's too small.
2.) velvet needs to be added to the tailcoat
3.) need to work on Applying make up.
4.) Getting the wig shaped and styled.
5.) need a inlay piping line effect on the tailcoat, waistcoat and a stripes down the trouser seams.
As a perfectionist and a lover of theatrical costume this venture is exiting.
But it's looking Ok 70% Completed.
Going for the more 2000-2010 London Phantom style.
(David Shannon. Ramin Karimloo, John Owen Jones, Scott Davies. Nic Greenshields, Nigel Richard's) Look with the enhanced Eyebrow.
A Phantom production that I had tickets for. Would have been amazing and a fantastic cast too. Damn that fire!!!! I hope it will make a return #phantom
I... will never get over the cancelled Paris production. SO CLOSE, and yet so far. And one of my favourite proscenium set-ups ever.
So what did the Restaged Phantom UK tour and a the London Production of Love Never Dies have in common.
Some little details.
They used the same Mask Makers.
Also they used the same prosthetic artist.
The love never never dies London make up was made by the same prosthetic make up company for the phantom UK tour.
Also the make up had a false left side of the head prosthetic appliance that went over the left eye brow and forehead. And the To microphones was placed inside the prosthetic eyebrow.
If you see the top right image you can see the microphone wire inside Ramins forehead prosthetic.
I went on a Backstage tour of phantom and saw all the backstage makeup and costume departments at work
I even got to wear a mask and wig and watched the prosthetics being applied.
After months of trying to make a historically accurate Phantom Suit. Would I Recommend making one? In short. NO. It’s cost several hundreds of £££ and countless hours of effort. I can see why Cosplay artists make their own costumes.
Going to a London Tailors was an expensive and time consuming business.
I’ve had so much help from Cosplay artists, Show Costumers, Historical Costume museums
To try and make this suit in the time period of 1880-1900 based time zone (France Sadi Carnot era and late Victorian era). Has been a costly labour of love.
Trying to get items from the original costumers was hard. So many complications and Issues regarding licensing agreements and copyright and duty of contract. So finding similar options was challenging.