Cardiff is always full of surprises. This morning we walked out to the Welsh National Academy of Music and Drama, in order to book tickets for a couple of events taking place there later in the week. A delightful surprise was the discovery of an exhibition of work by their students, in the area of costume and stage design. I think it was their final assessment project, or something similar. We were both bowled over by this, both by its variety and its creative energy.
The experience was certainly an eye-opener for me, in that I had little idea of the work that lies behind this aspect of the theatre. What is more, to my shame, I had not grasped the importance of either the skill or the creative energy that is required in this area. I do admit that my appreciation of the artistic capability required in this work has been seriously deficient, and recognise that we are confronting real art here, and not just “craft”.