The Lightning Thief costume designer inspired by streetwear
Robin Fisher is an award-winning set and costume designer based in Hamilton. A graduate of both the Costume Studies Program at Dalhousie University and the Scenography Program at The National Theatre School of Canada, Robin has been designing productions for theatres across the country since the late 1990’s. Some of her work has been seen at Stratford Festival, Canadian Stage, Young People’s Theatre, Canadian Opera Company, Citadel Theatre, Globe Theatre, Grand Theatre, and the Great Canadian Theatre Company. Robin has also forayed into film and music videos with her costume designs.
Robin designed the sets, costumes, props and puppets for MTYP’s production of The Lightning Thief. Her work has graced past MTYP productions such as The Jungle Book and Torn through Time. We are delighted to welcome her back!
Q The process of bringing a story this visually ambitious to stage is fascinating. Talk about the conversations that you had with director Cherissa Richards about how to do this, including what to include and perhaps what to leave on the cutting room floor.
Robin Fisher
A Many aspects of this piece need to serve both the book’s lore and the play’s action. The director and I explored the book’s imagery and discussed how to apply it to the show, while keeping the quick location changes and the show’s fast-paced flow in mind. In one of the first conversations I had with the director, she shared that she was interested in creating a ‘playground’ to create ways for the performers to inhabit the space dynamically. From this conversation, I began exploring how to combine different levels, steps, and a slide, incorporating the location descriptions from both the book and the script. As we worked on the concept, we realized that significant scenery changes would be tough to do quickly, which is why the set is static. The performers’ movement around the space and the lighting design will help create the shifts from scene to scene.
Q You are a triple threat, creating sets, props and costumes. Do you have a favourite area to work in? Can you talk about your process in making all three of these work together?
A I must admit that I feel most comfortable with costumes, as I have a background in costume construction. This background provides an excellent foundation to have in-depth conversations with the wardrobe team here at MTYP as we find and build the pieces for this show. However, being able to create an entire aesthetic for the show across costumes, set, and props is fantastic. When designing all of these elements on one show, I often like to incorporate colour to connect locations, puppets, and characters.
Q There are some amazing puppets in this show, which you also designed. Where did you get your inspiration for these? Have you designed puppets for stage before and what are the most important considerations when doing so?
A The inspiration for the puppets came from looking at a variety of puppet builders from around the world who create lightweight, transparent creatures. What I love about the transparency is the audience’s ability to see how the puppets are manipulated. Sometimes it’s really fun to see how the creatures work. Some other puppets I have designed in the past required a different approach. For instance, my design for the character ‘Aunt Beast’ in “A Wrinkle in Time” at the Stratford Festival completely concealed the performer to create a sense of realism for the creature. My top priority—always—is to ensure that the puppet supports the performer and does not put any strain on their body.
Q What was your favourite discovery when preparing for this production? Were you a fan of Greek mythology previously? Did that change as a result of your work on The Lightning Thief?
A My favourite discovery was learning more about the Percy Jackson stories. I didn’t grow up reading these books, so it was really fun to explore them. And while I have also enjoyed learning about Greek mythology throughout my life, what I love about these stories is the new perspective they offer. Meeting heroes (and villains) through the eyes of teenage Perseus is a fun and exciting way to get the next generation interested in Greek mythology.
Tickets for The Lightning Thief are available at: https://mtyp.ca/lightning-thief/
