Julie Taymor, Designer: In Focus

'The Magic Flute', directed by Julie Taymor

Julie Taymor is a well-known director and designer for theatre, opera and film. Her work is widespread and popular, and for good reason. Her designs are bold and innovative, and often involve larger-than-life figures - such as the bears above from an interpretation of Mozart's 'The Magic Flute'. The bears look weighty and solid due to their large size but in practical terms are lightweight and flexible via their simple cane and fabric construction. Her creations hold a passion for the boldness and drama of the stage, pushing designs to the limit of the environment's physical boundaries to create a fulfilling and exciting production every time.

Taymor's work showcased in Spider Man: Turn Off The Dark

Taymor is best know for her work on the musical adaptation of Disney's 'The Lion King' and I can't even pretend to not be inspired by it - even if it is the production people first jump to when Taymor is mentioned. It was one of the first musical theatre productions I ever saw, and jump started my love for the energy and style it contains. Her designs are inspirational, playing off the strengths and weaknesses of the characters to produce costumes that compliment the play's script and musical numbers.

Not only does Taymor have the vision to direct, but she is also an incredibly skilled maker, creating the original sculpts for the lion's head dresses herself. It would be impossible to say this project won't be influenced by Taymor's creative output, but I also in a sense wish to stray far from it - the less immediate association people make with her work, the better. We have the freedom and in fact legally need to stray from Taymor's vision of 'The Lion King' to create Razamatazz's 'Pride Lands'; We are simultaneously overshadowed by the huge success and beauty of Taymor's work, and humbled and inspired by it.