Immy wows with wonderful panto costumes at the Oxford Playhouse

The recent panto at the Oxford Playhouse featured extraordinary costumes from the highly talented costume designer and milliner Immy Howard. A 2013 SHSK alumna, Immy has been in the world of hats and costume-making since she was at school. 

Having voiced an interest in the subject in Year 9 to her then drama teacher, Mr Hogben, Immy was invited to visit the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) in Stratford alongside Mr Hogben and Ms Watt to source costumes for the School’s upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet. After that, Immy helped backstage on various school productions with makeup, costumes and prop making. In 2012 she was given the opportunity by Ms Watt to design and make the costumes for the Lent term production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This support from Immy’s teachers was hugely formative in building her interest in the world of theatre and costume design.

On leaving school, Immy went to Oxford Brookes to study an Art Foundation diploma, followed by a degree in Costume Design at Arts University Bournemouth, and since then has been working in the industry as a theatrical hat maker for film and theatre. She now works as Head of Wardrobe for Oxford Playhouse and is also a freelance designer, running a business making bespoke hats and headpieces for individuals and organisations. She has been featured in Tatler as well as bridal magazines OX Weddings and Rock N Roll Bride. 

We caught up with Immy to ask a few questions about her recent project and where she gets her inspiration.  

Can you tell us about your recent panto project at the Oxford Playhouse. What was the theme around the designs? 

Absolutely! Our recent production, Sleeping Beauty, centres around Princess Aurora, a budding young fashion designer who is reluctant and unwilling to become the new Queen of Oxland. Set in the medieval year 985, she pricks her finger on a spinning wheel gifted to her by her wicked uncle, Walter, and wakes up 1000 years later in the year 1985! The whole world had a bold, illustrative feel about it, with both eras managing to complement each other as Aurora and her gang time travel back and forth throughout it to try and save Oxland. Along with a focus on cutting edge costumes, some of which are straight out of Aurora’s first fashion collection, 80s pop culture references are peppered throughout the show, citing films such as Pretty in Pink and Back to the Future (specifically the Delorean car, adapted into costume form to be worn by our very own Dame Nelly)! 

Where do you get your inspiration for the many costumes? 

Alongside the aforementioned various films, a lot of the costumes are inspired by pop stars and fashion icons of the 1980s. I would have to say that the three main influences for this particular show have been Vivienne Westwood, Pete Burns and Boy George, whose iconic looks have been interpreted throughout Sleeping Beauty in a pantomime style that incorporates both the illustrative feel of the set design, along with the various personality traits and qualities of the characters. 

How much of the process from inspiration through to costume production are you involved in? Is there a large team working alongside you? 

It does vary, but for this particular show I was involved heavily from start to finish. Alongside designing the costumes, I also sourced them all (along with the fabrics), arranged production of any that needed to be made, and managed the budget. This job is called Costume Supervision and can be done by someone else if required. So, for a large part of the initial process, I was working pretty much solo, but had a fantastic team of work placement students join me from AUB, Bath Spa and Huddersfield University to assist me over the production weeks in November, and make a selection of fabulous costumes that ended up on the stage! 

What is it you enjoy most about your job as a costume designer and milliner? 

There are two main things I enjoy most about my job. One is the constant variety of it. Every week is very different, and I often find myself working on two or three projects at the same time. I love this because every day feels very fresh and new to me, while still enabling me to focus and get stuck in with whatever show or millinery project I have in hand. It is also a very practical job, which is really satisfying, especially when you are involved from start to finish and can see a costume or hat grow from its initial sketch into its final form. The second thing I enjoy most about what I do is working with people! I have had the pleasure of working with a large selection of absolutely lovely directors, clients, costume designers and brides, and getting to meet and help bring their creative visions to life through costume or millinery is a great privilege and a joy. 

Do you have any big New Year’s resolutions? What do you hope 2025 will bring professionally speaking? 

I am very excited and hopeful for 2025. I hope, professionally, it will bring more costume design work in the world of theatre, as it has been such a dream to design the pantomime here in Oxford. I also hope to venture further into the world of TV and film with my millinery, so am hopeful there may be a few exciting projects around the corner. As far as New Year’s resolutions go, I only really have the classics; to stop biting my nails and drink more water. 

Thank you Immy for an insight into the life of a costume designer. We wish you all the best for 2025 and look forward to following your fascinating career!

To see more of Immy’s work, follow her Instagram @immyhmillinery or view her website immyhowardmillinery.com

Professional photo credits for the performance photos go to Geraint Lewis Photography.