Rita Burdus Interview: The Front-of-House Uniform
Title
Rita Burdus Interview: The Front-of-House Uniform
Date
7 November 2017
Description
Oral history interview with Rita Burdus, sharing her front of house memories as a long-standing usher and head steward at the Theatre Royal.
What's the story?
Rita Burdus retired from the Theatre Royal in August 2017. She was first employed at the venue in 1983, originally based in the Royal Concert Hall, but for twenty-two years up to her retirement she worked in the Theatre Royal on front-of-house duties, finally as head steward.
In this interview Rita talks about the front-of-house uniform for ushers and being confused with members of the orchestra!
When I first started – the uniform – we used to have a long skirt to the floor, to your feet. A wrap-over skirt and we had a similar uniform for about 8 years. But we found it was getting more and more dangerous because you were going up and down the stairs, especially in the Concert Hall: you used to have to lift your skirt up. It was quite impractical. So we went and said “Can we wear shorter skirts?” Because everybody thought we were part of an orchestra anyway, when we had orchestras coming in. So we went for a shorter skirt then, or trousers, so that was a big change. They always asked us what we liked and if we didn’t like them, we’d say. So yes, they were really good. So that was one big change.
In this interview Rita talks about the front-of-house uniform for ushers and being confused with members of the orchestra!
When I first started – the uniform – we used to have a long skirt to the floor, to your feet. A wrap-over skirt and we had a similar uniform for about 8 years. But we found it was getting more and more dangerous because you were going up and down the stairs, especially in the Concert Hall: you used to have to lift your skirt up. It was quite impractical. So we went and said “Can we wear shorter skirts?” Because everybody thought we were part of an orchestra anyway, when we had orchestras coming in. So we went for a shorter skirt then, or trousers, so that was a big change. They always asked us what we liked and if we didn’t like them, we’d say. So yes, they were really good. So that was one big change.
Type
Oral Interview
Location of item
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall
Rights
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall
Contributor
Interviewers: Diane Jones & Jennifer Sherwood
Transcriber: David Chilton
Transcriber: David Chilton
