High Peak wardrobe master has worked with Hugh Jackman, Take That and top West End musicals
A life on the stage has changed to dressing the stars in top worldwide productions and a High Peak wardrobe master has recently been working on films which have won an Oscar for costume design.
Matt Warhurst who went to Buxton Community School says his career has been an absolute blur but he’s loved every minute of it.
He said: “I took part in the Gilbert and Sullivan Festival at Buxton Opera House and knew I wanted to be in the arts.” He then gained a scholarship to study and moved to London to pursue his career dreams and then worked with Victoria Wood.
Between auditions he was sewing costumes and what started as a side line became his full time job and now he is a wardrobe master which means he run the departments for the costume designer.
His first costume job was on Matilda and other works included Harry Potter and Cursed Child, School of Rock and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In 2019 Matt joined Hugh Jackman’s Greatest Showman worldwide tour and he has also worked on the Take That tour.
He said: “I’ve been very lucky that I haven’t actually had to apply for a job. People have recommended me or scouted me which has been amazing.
“It’s a lot of hard work but it has been a lot of fun too.”
During Covid however Matt was out of work and returned home to the High Peak and even took a job in Mountain Warehouse and dog walking just to pay the bills.
However after the lockdown the calls returned and he was asked to work on Amazon Prime show and then a Marvel film in the costume department.
Other notable works include House of the Dragon, Kraven the Hunter and A Haunting in Venice.
Most recently Matt has worked on Netflix’s Frankenstein where his colleague won an Oscar for Best Achievement in Costume Design.
Matt, 34, said: “This is not my Oscar but to be on the same team as someone who has won an Oscar and learn from them has been amazing.
“I do miss performing but there have been so many opportunities come my way from costume and wardrobes.
“I wouldn’t be anywhere without the help and support of the teachers from Buxton Community School who were some of the best people I have ever met and opened doors for me to give me this wonderful career.”