A true artist and a gifted individual. Ginnie had a great zest for life I can still remember her humming a few bars of Jimmy Hendrix songs through the REX corridors. Will be sadly missed.
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Ginnie O'Brien (6 Dec 1945 - 24 Feb 2019)
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- Location
- Prestwich Cricket, Tennis and Bowling Club off Heys Road Prestwich M25 1BZ
- Date
- 7th Mar 2019
- Time
- 4.30pm
We are sad to announce that our former Head of Wardrobe Ginnie O’Brien passed away on Sunday 24th February. She died peacefully with her family around her.
Ginnie was passionate about clothing and started to learn her craft making clothes while working in Liverpool’s stylish fashion boutique Through the Looking Glass in the 1960s. In the early 70s she joined the team at Liverpool Everyman as a cutter in the wardrobe department. She became part of a growing family who were passionate about the theatre, working with Willy Russell, Alan Dosser, Roger McGough and spent her time creating costumes for actors such as Julie Walters, Pete Postlethwaite and Matthew Kelly.
Following the Everyman she spent time working in Chicago before returning home and working in various theatres around the country. She finally came to settle as Head of Wardrobe Manchester’s newest theatre The Royal Exchange in the early 1980s, establishing the department that exists today. Ginnie’s dedication to the theatre was infectious and she instilled her colleagues with a desire to create beautifully detailed costumes to the very highest standard.
Her passion didn’t simply lie in bringing costume designs to life but in helping and inspiring the next generation of costume makers to achieve their potential. Ginnie, who was self-taught, looked for the twinkle in someone’s eye; for those people who had an instinctive talent for creating costume. Ginnie nurtured that little bit of magic, recognising in others what she had felt when she first started out.
Ginnie retired from the Royal Exchange Theatre in 2008.
donated in memory of Ginnie
I owe Ginnie everything- she believed in me right from the start, and gave me the confidence to grow as a maker and to do it all in such a lovely, fun & supportive environment. I loved my time working with her, and was very lucky & privileged to have known her.
The stars will shine that little bit brighter tonight, (and they’re probably better dressed already!)
♥️
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I owe Ginnie everything- she believed in me right from the start, and gave me the confidence to grow as a maker and to do it all in such a lovely, fun & supportive environment. I loved my time working with her, and was very privileged & lucky to have known her.
The stars will shine that little bit brighter tonight. ( and they’re probably better dressed already!) ♥️
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Ginnie was a huge guiding light in my life. Inspirational and passionate about her work, she encouraged me to follow my passion, and strive for perfection. Fondest memoires of working in her department at the Royal Exchange, I have always felt so lucky to have had that opportunity. A great woman, a trojan and a legend .
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wrote
Dear Ginnie,
You were always so much fun, extremely talented and inspiration to everyone who had the opportunity to work with you .
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Dear Ginnie
Thankyou, you were a true one of a kind,an original, inspirational woman ,freind and Boss.
Thankyou for your faith and belief in my abilitys and giving me a great chance to create use and expand my skills.
Thankyou for all the fun, happy memories and wonderful challenging times and feeling part of something special .
with love RIP
Julia
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donated £50 in memory of Ginnie
Wonderful, wonderful lady! Love Johanna
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donated £20 in memory of Ginnie
Very happy memories will be sadly missed
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Miss you
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Miss you
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donated £100 in memory of Ginnie
On behalf of us all at the Royal Exchange Theatre x
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Ginnie made an immense contribution to this theatre, to costume in our city and our industry. We have a legacy of skills and knowledge that serves us to this day. She will be missed.
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is attending the funeral and the reception
is attending the funeral and the reception
Miss you
Miss you
Notice the large champers bottle in foreground!!
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