What makes a successful costume designer in Australia?

Join me, Maisy Stapleton, to meet Jennifer Irwin, key costume designer at Bangarra and previously at the Sydney Dance Company. She is the winner of many awards and nominations for her designs and recognised by her industry for her contribution to the performing arts.

Jennifer has recently designed the costumes for Graeme Murphy’s incredible contemporary staging of Madama Butterfly presented in Sydney by Opera Australia. She worked on the Sydney Olympics and has designed for commercials and films – amongst a host of assignments such as teaching and producing exhibitions.

Jenny gives us great insight into what it takes to succeed in the performing arts in this country.

Before speaking with Jenny, we’ll meet Mirri Leven, a Director of Cooee Art Gallery.

The Gallery is staging a special exhibition on Mum Shirl: The Black Saint of Redfern. Mum Shirl worked tirelessly for the Aboriginal community and her legacy as a hugely influential social worker, humanitarian and community leader for Indigenous people in Sydney and beyond is remembered to this day.

This exhibition at Cooee Gallery honours the life and work of Mum Shirl, with contemporary photographs taken by Elaine Pelot-Syron and paintings by her husband Gordon Syron, both of whom knew Mum Shirl well.