The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1973, Side 23

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
21
HAROLD STEPHEN SKAPTASON
by Mattie Halldorson
In the Icelandic Canadian magazine,
in the summer issue 1961, Judge
Walter J. Linda! wrote: . . that a
descendant of the Vikings should chose
costume cutting as a profession and
designing is very unique.”
Since that time Stephen Skaptason
has found his niche in his chosen field
and has become a chief cutter and de-
signer for the wardrobe department
with the National Theatre in London,
England, and has been with that
theatrical organization since Septem-
ber 1962.
His talent was evident at an early
age. When he was thirteen he designed
and sewed a jumper dress for his sister
Holly, who was nine. It fitted perfect-
ly and was greatly admired by her
family and friends. He also made a
beautiful gown in greyish blue bro-
cade for his mother.
When he was fifteen years of age
he designed and cut costumes for The
Manitoba Theatre Centre productions,
under the direction of John Hirsch.
At Rainbow Stage costumes were
executed by Stephen for “South Pac-
ific”, directed by R. Moulton; “The
Lady is Not for Burning”, an Eliza-
bethan play, and “The Boyfriend”,
under the direction of John Hirsch,
as well as others.
Stephen was with the Stratford
Theatre in Canada for a season.
While there he had the opportunity
to work with the head cutter, Mr. Ivan
Alderman, costume supervisor of the
National Theatre, London, England,
who was so impressed with his work
Harold Stephen Skaptason
that he urged Stephen to go to Eng-
land. In 1962, at nineteen years of age
he set out for London and has been
there ever since.
He soon caught the attention of
the film stars and has designed cos-
tumes for Ingrid Bergman, for a film
to be released in America, Lord Olivier
and Claire Bloom. He designed and
cut costumes for Miss Bloom’s role in
the film “A Doll’s House” by Henrik
Ibsen, now being shown in London.
While Stephen does some designing
he works in the main from patterns
of various designers.
Mr. Kenneth Tynan, literary con-
sultant of the National Theatre and
noted art critic, requested Stephen to
make for his wife a copy of a tinselled