Hair fit for a Queen: the salon behind the hair behind the play.
In the classic Euripides’ tale of betrayal and revenge, Suzie Miller’s adaptation brings to life the fictional, heard but never seen mistress (Glauce) in 'Medea'. Opening at La Boite on 30 May, scenestr dropped into Epic Hair Designs Newmarket salon – the official hairdressers of the iconic company – where Helen Christinson had her fiery red maine touched up and blow-dried, ready to be styled for her character of Glauce.
With striking design and attention to detail on the set of every La Boite production, their journey from Shakespeare to shaking-it-up is what intrigued Epic Hair Designs' Director Brendon Mann to pursue a hairdressing contract with the company. “I've always liked theatre... Because I go to see shows at La Boite, when I heard that [La Boite's previous hairdressers were selling] I wrote them a letter, not touching on Bossy Hair being sold, but saying that if an opportunity ever came up that we would like to do hair for you. The day [La Boite] found out that they were being sold, Bossy said they couldn't do the hair for the next day and La Boite had a big photoshoot. So they rang us up and we said yes straight away.
“We did all the hair in the Kenmore salon. We moved all our morning appointments and explained to those clients what was going on and they were happy to do that. Wo we did the hair for the shoot and the rest is history. We did another big photoshoot for them and then ended up doing their main productions from there. We've signed a one year contract going onto another two year contract after this.”
From cutting and colouring to fitting and styling wigs, Epic Hair Design's team teach the actors all they need to know for their character's do. “About a month out from the production, La Boite will send us out a brief of exactly how they need their hair along with a photo of their actor, a photo of their idea of what they want and a bit of a description... Within the industry all the actors know how to style their own hair, they have to style it themselves before each show. So we teach them how to get their hair ready for that; what styling products they need to use, how to maintain the wig and all that. And then throughout the production if they need their colour touched up they can come back in and we'll do that, or fix up their wigs.
“For the photoshoots they all come into the salon first and then we'll send a hairdresser along with them to maintain it throughout the day. We don't do that for the productions, but for the photoshoots there is just so much going on that they need someone there.”
And it's not always the ladies getting their luscious locks styled for stage. “In 'A Doll's House' last year there was quite a lot to do with [the men]; colours and cuts and styling. For 'Wind In The Willows' we just had to do a simple cut, but besides that there haven't been many men yet this year. We might have to do something for 'Prize Fighter', and that will be afro hair so that will be something new,” Brendon laughs.
Having bought the company when his sister told him that the salon she worked at was up for sale, Brendon's background is originally in retail. Now directing a medium-sized team, and with a theatre company partnership going steady, Brendon is loving the change of pace and excited for the future with Epic Hair Designs. “We've got 28 staff and I really want to keep them entertained and keep them wanting to stay here. They love doing this kind of stuff, not many salons do it so it's a great thing for them to be able to do.
“We're very passionate about what we do, and that's a part of our success. So we're a bit picky with who we partner with. So even with our products we really researched until we had the best colour, best shampoos – we're not just doing it because it's a business thing... We train all our hairdressers up to a master colourist level.”
Epic Hair Designs have salons in Kenmore, Newmarket, Norman Park, Upper Mount Gravattt and Springfield Lakes. 'Medea' plays La Boite, 30 May – 20 June.
