Hats off to Meg and the Musketeers

Characters wanting to get ahead in The Dukes latest outdoor show '“ get a hat!
Meg Roberts with some of her fantastical creations for The Three Musketeers.Meg Roberts with some of her fantastical creations for The Three Musketeers.
Meg Roberts with some of her fantastical creations for The Three Musketeers.

And it’s a surefire bet that hat has been created by Meg Roberts, the head-dress and costume maker for this year’s production of The Three Musketeers.

The spectacular costumes and head-dresses in the show are proving real crowd-pleasers and are the results of hours of work.

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Plant pots, peacock feathers, foam and polystyrene are just some of the materials Meg (pictured right) has used for her creations, which are worn not only by the professional cast, but also members of the community cast.

She’s also produced head-dresses to look like horses, a sheepdog and sheep and a variety of wigs. All of them have to withstand wind and rain, should the weather turn unseasonal during the run.

“This is the biggest park show I’ve worked on in terms of the volume of hats and head-dresses I’ve had to make – it’s taken seven weeks in total,” said Meg, who is one of the nine-strong wardrobe and dresser team.

Although she lives mainly in France, Meg returns to The Dukes each summer to work on the park show alongside her mum, Ann Preston, the theatre’s wardrobe supervisor.

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Meg did work experience at The Dukes while her mum worked on the 1988 promenade production. She then went on to study a BTec in performing arts at Blackpool & Fylde College before returning to The Dukes as a wardrobe assistant.

“I’ve had some brilliant opportunities with the shows I’ve worked on and the places I’ve visited. I’ve been very lucky,” said Meg.

If you’d like to see Meg’s creations for yourself, The Three Musketeers runs in Lancaster’s Williamson Park until August 18. Call 01524 598500.

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