Double Take -- by Mark Sproxton

Illustration by Kathy Lycka

Enjoying the performances at Calgary Opera, a Calgary woman focusses intently on something other than the performances. She's also carefully watching the performer's heads. You see, every time these singing professionals take to the stage, they take a bit of her work with them.

Laura de Moissac works as the wig/hair artist for Calgary Opera helping keep the singers in character for that night's performance. "I love the opera, the design and creativity in the wigs," she said. "I love being there."

So just what is it she does? A few weeks before the opera begins, she takes measurements of the singers' heads and orders the appropriately sized wigs from a manufacturer. Once the wigs arrive, if they need colouring, she'll colour the wigs, wash them, set and style them. The style will have been determined in consultation with the singers and producers. When the opera begins its run, she's charged with the on-going care of the wigs.

Before moving into the world of the performing arts, de Moissac worked far from stage and screen. In fact, she said she "fluked" into the career altogether. "I took the beauty culture program in high school and then decided to get the apprenticeship and licence," she said. "I figured I would be able to make money wherever I was."

That led to work in hair salons, which allowed her to network and make other connections in the esthetics industry. One day a phone call came from another hair dressing friend asking if de Moissac would be interested in doing some styling work on a film shoot. She did that for a few years while working to become a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 212 union.

Doing that work for TV and movies also allowed her lots of hands-on learning opportunities with wigs. But she just didn't jump in as the head wig/hair artist for Calgary Opera. Here too she worked for a few years as a wig/hair assistant gaining direct insight into the requirements of styling wigs for operas.

Now in her first season as the head wig/hair artist for the local opera company, de Moissac loves the work. "It's fascinating," the long-time hair/wig stylist said. "For myself, generally I'm in awe of the opera singers. You get to meet so many fabulous people."

While she loves the challenge of colouring, styling and maintaining the wigs, she said there is a drawback to the work. "For me, it's a contract," de Moissac said of her employment. "You never know from season to season if you're going to be doing it." She supplements her income by doing TV work as well. "You don't do it because you like the money," she said. "If opera was full-time, it would be wonderful. But it's not."