Helene Siebrits
I was born and raised in rural South Africa. I come from a troubled place and a troubled time. As a young woman I studied fashion design in Port Elizabeth and then worked as a designer in the fashion district of Cape Town. From here the world beckoned and I travelled to Britain for a new adventure.
It was in London that my career turned towards design for theatre. I saw the production of My Children, My Africa by Athol Fugard at the National Theatre. This experience changed my life. Theatre marked the beginning of a new relationship with my home country. The dramatic literature of Africa written by authors such as Wole Soyinka, Ngugi wa Thiongo and Athol Fugard exposed the false narratives and brutalities of the post-colonial collision. They interrogated the narratives of Europe’s colonial expansion, apartheid and racial discrimination. From this first encounter with theatre I began to see theatre as a powerful tool for creative social change.
After working as a draper in regional theatre in the United States, I joined the graduate program at the UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television to master my skills in costume design. Here I was privileged to have scenographer Pamela Howard and costume designer Dunya Ramicova as mentors. Pamela exposed me to the process of scenography and the multiple facets of collaboration. Her design process is something that I cherish and regularly share with my students. Dunya has been a major inspiration in my educational, professional, and artistic career. At UCLA, I learned a great deal about design history and costume rendering under her tutelage. Dunya also introduced me to world renowned director Peter Sellars and the world of opera. She quite literally opened the door to my career in design.
In today’s globalised art world, it is possible to cross borders and enjoy meaningful experiences. I have had the great fortune to work with wonderful students and artists across the planet. Together we explore the nature and necessity of our art. As collaborators we explore the power of the written narrative to provide insight into the difficult and challenging aspects of humanity. Our art sheds light on a troubled social, political and economic evolution but at the same time explores the beautiful and sublime ever present. I am blessed to be a part of this important artistic community.
