East Sussex College degree lecturer helps bring new Hamnet movie to life
East Sussex College is proud to celebrate the work of Tara MacDonald, BA (Hons) Designer Maker lecturer, whose specialist skills in natural dyeing have contributed to the costume design of Hamnet - a production inspired by the world of Shakespeare.
Tara worked alongside Richard Sweryda from De Havilland Dyers, a professional film dyer, to create historically accurate colours for the costumes used in the production. Rather than relying on modern pigments, the team focused on natural dyes that would have been used during the period, helping to bring authenticity to the final designs.
“My role in creating the colours for Hamnet was to work with Richard Sweryda from De Havilland Dyers in creating authentic naturally dyed swatches as a base for the costume colours,” said Tara. “He is a film dyer but wanted in this case to work with the colours from the dyes that would have been used at the time to bring more historical accuracy. I was brought in to help create these colours.”
For Tara, the project was also an opportunity to explore how her craft could be used in new and exciting ways beyond her usual work.
“It was really interesting to see how natural dyes could be used in other contexts like costume production as my practice mostly involves creating products for sale. He also works on a bigger scale and it was great to experience his set up.”
As a lecturer on the Designer Maker degree course, which is validated by University of East Anglia, Tara brings her real-world experience directly into the classroom, helping students understand what it’s really like to work in the creative industries.
“On the Designer Maker BA we aim to train our makers to work professionally in their chosen field and to develop their own practice,” said Tara. “As a teacher my experience from working as a professional natural dyer enables me to share the realities of working in contemporary crafts. This project was fascinating for me but also helps the students see the broader applications of the skills they are learning.”
Sustainability plays a key role in the course, with students learning traditional and environmentally conscious techniques that are increasingly valued across creative industries.
“As part of the Sustainable Textiles Module the Designer Maker students all learn the basics of natural dyeing and gain the understanding of the techniques if they wish to take this forward in their practice.”
Tara added, “I also teach natural ink making for painting and printing as a lot of the students are moving away from artificial pigments in favour of more ecofriendly options. For the Hamnet project these were part of an exploration of historical textiles, but for us they also offer a way of moving forward with more environmental consideration.”
Tara believes that showing students where their creative talents can take them is essential.
“I feel it is essential for students to see real world applications of their crafts. A project like this can show them that even working from our little town by the sea can still have enormous reach in the professional world. Many craft skills are having a resurgence in popularity and demand and are becoming much more valued.”
Alongside teaching, Tara continues to develop her own creative practice, helping students gain confidence and build connections within the industry.
“In terms of up and coming projects I am creating a class to naturally dye embroidery threads with a local professional embroiderer, attending maker's fairs to showcase my work and developing my own dye garden among other things,” said Tara. “By having my own practice I can help students network, get started in showing their own work and develop the confidence to get out there and work for themselves.”
Projects like Hamnet highlight how the College’s team of talented lecturers are well-connected in their industries, which benefits every student who studies a degree course at East Sussex College.