Make-up demonstration
Stage make-up can make a huge difference to the way actors look and feel and can play a big part in helping to develop a character.
These demonstrations show you how to create three characters for the stage. The colours used here can be used for both dark and light skins.
Creating a cat
Cat characters often appear in pantomimes and are fun to create. Click on the images below to view detailed instructions for each step.

Step 1
Step 1: Apply a panel of white greasepaint down the centre of the face as shown. Fill in temples and under cheek bones with a tan greasepaint.

Step 2
Step 2: Use an orange powder blusher to shade around the white areas.

Step 3
Step 3: Use a green powder eyeshadow on the eyelids, extending out to the sides to create the cat's eye shape.

Step 4
Step 4: Paint around the eyes witrh black eyeliner or facepaint. Paint around the nostrils for a nice neat nose. Add a line from nose to mouth then draw the mouth into a triangle shape. Add some whisker spots and whiskers.

Step 5
Step 5: Using white paint, highlight the eyebrows, eyes and whiskers. Fill in the mouth shape with pink lipstick. Use translucent powder to set.

Step 6
Step 6: Pop on a wig or ears to finish.
Creating an aged character and a pantomime dame
The pictures below show a sequence of steps to take when aging an actor with make-up. To achieve a glamorous dame, begin with the basic aged character make-up, then add a few extra touches. Click on the images below to view detailed instructions for each step.

Ageing a character step 1
Step1: Shade under cheek bones, on temples and down the nose using a grey-brown greasepaint applied with a large brush or latext sponge.
For very dark skins, the grey-brown can be substituted for black.

Ageing a character step 2
Step 2: With a latex sponge or brush pale down the rest of the face using pale pink greasepaint, just skimming over the surface. The pink should be used sparingly on all skin tones.
Blend the grey-brown and the pink together to soften edges of the base with a clean sponge.

Ageing a character step 3
Make-up process: Ageing a character, step 3

Ageing a character step 4
Step 4: Mix some white greasepaint and some pink together and highlight around the dark lines as shown. Blend carefully, avoiding the dark wrinkle lines.

Ageing a character step 5
Step 5: Add some purple-red (carmine) around the eyes. Break up the lip line by drawing faint lines vertically around the mouth. Use a stipple sponge to add broken veins still in carmine on cheeks. Add some white hairs by using your finger to brush white greasepaint very lightly over the eyebrow.

Ageing a character step 6
Step 6: Set everything with translucent powder either with a large powder brush or puff.

Ageing a character step 7
Make-up process: Ageing a character, step 7

Ageing a character step 8
Make-up process: Ageing a character, step 8

Pantomime dame make-up step 1
Step 1: Starting with the basic aging make-up as a foundation, add some red blusher then pencil over the top of the eyebrows with a black eyebrow pencil. Use a brush to apply bright blue shadow or greasepaint on the eyelids and colour up towards the brow bone.
Use the pencil to draw some heart beauty spots, and paint a cupid's bow mouth over the lips with lipstick or greasepaint.

Pantomime dame make-up step 2
Step 2: Black out a tooth with tooth enamel for comedy effect, and add a spectacular wig.

Pantomime dame make-up step 3
Step 3: Dress the wig with a suitable accessory for a touch of extra glamour.
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