Bruising times in grade 10

Cuts, grazes, contusions, bloody noses, open wounds – it seemed like litres of Kensington Gore* were being poured over our grade 10 students in theatre class this week. SIS alumna, Mina Jenssens, was back at the school to share some of the secrets of her chosen career as a makeup artist in the creative industries.

She took the students through the different stages of creating the apparent injuries which are so familiar to us on screen. From building and layering colour to imitate bruising, to building up 'fleshy' swellings to mimic deep cuts or gunshot wounds, the students learned the basics of materials, colours, and techniques. Then the fun began. They set out to practice on each other, and from just a short workshop, delivered some convincing results, as you can see in our gallery.

The workshop is a reminder that our students don't just learn about the performance aspect of theatre, but about all the skills that go into making contemporary entertainment on stage and screen.

*Kensington Gore is a punning term for stage blood, named after the street in London where the Royal Albert Hall is located.