Episode 41: Ketti Shum

In this episode of Burning Coal Theatre podcast “Into the Fire” with Jerome Davis, Ketti Shum, the Costume Designer for David Hare’s Stuff Happens, tells us what it really takes to be a dedicated customer. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Ketti came to the states for her undergraduate education, but had a very different idea of what her career path was to be. Beginning in a pre veterinary track, Ketti describes what drew her to theatre and what caused her to change majors. Jerry, and Ketti discuss the differences of costumes in film and stage, as well as the gap between traditional and contemporary theatre in China and other countries.

0:01 - Intro

0:28  - Jerry’s introduction

1:00 - Introduction to Ketti

3:45 - Ketti’s connection to Burning Coal Theatre

5:00 - Ketti’s theatre experience in Hong Kong

5:54 - Theatre in Hong Kong

7:34 - Closing the gap between traditional and contemporary theatre

9:25 - Resistance to western drama/culture in Hong Kong

10:45 - Ketti’s time spent with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte

12:04 - Difference between chinese opera and newer works

14:07 - What caused you to change majors from pre vet to theatre

16:41 - Steps to prepare for the production

19:50 - with actors that play multiple parts we make simple and clear chances to the costume do you work with this style frequently?

23:07 - Is there anything as a costume designer you would like to do that you haven’t yet?

24:00 - thorough costuming in film

25:43 - Costume continuity in film

27:37 - the frustrations with costume designing

31:48 - the joys of being a costume designer

33:05 - Outro