Chase Hayden,18, from Rye, has won the Director’s Choice Award in the Royal Opera House Design Challenge 2017. The talented student, who attends Sussex Downs College in Lewes, joined other award-winning students from the College for a celebration ceremony at the Royal Opera House in London this week (Monday March 20).
The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, set a challenge to UK students to design sets, costumes and marketing strategies inspired by Puccini’s famous opera, Madama Butterfly.
Colleges from throughout the UK entered the prestigious competition, aimed at the next generation of aspiring set and costume designers, makers and marketing specialists. Students were asked to reimagine Madama Butterfly to test their design skills and show their vision for a production.
Pascal Bailey, 17, from Polegate, won the award for Best Set Design prize. He says: “This project has now inspired me to consider a future career in set design.”
Rhiannon Field, 18, from Eastbourne, won the award for Hair, Wigs and Make-up Design.
The Design Challenge winners will attend a special day at the Royal Opera House, which will include a visit to a specific Royal Opera House department, a backstage tour and a matinee performance of Madama Butterfly. There will be an exhibition of their designs at the Opera House and they will also be offered work experience in the department of their chosen discipline.
The Royal Opera House Design Challenge is generously supported by the Paul Hamlyn Education Fund.
Photo: Zara Baker