Ray Diffen Stage Clothes

Book by Diffen, Ray

Ray Diffen, stage costumer extraordinaire, belongs to the tribe of artisans who invent, fashion and produce every dress, wig, coat, handbag, shoe, helmet, hat, necklace, bra, pair of tights, corset, petticoat, hoop skirt, farthingale, medieval armor, chain mail, pumpkin breeches, ruff -mostly by hand, making one's own patterns, finding appropriate materials, inventing methods and making these garments and properties of mystical fabrics and in mysterious ways to beguile the theatregoer and make him wonder how it was done. His story begins in his mother's dressmaking shop in England, progresses through years of heading workshops, supervising costume production, designing and teaching, and ends as Resident Costume Designer at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC. Since retired to Eastbourne, on the southern coast of England, Ray continues his craft for family and friends, and writes about his life in the theatre.