MASON BROWNE
After spending his teenage years involved in community and regional theatre in the Blue Mountains (west of Sydney), Mason entered the design course at Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art aged 18 and emerged in 2003. Since this time he has earned substantial credits in the theatre, film and television industries as a production designer. Theatre credits include Diamond Eye for railway street, Our Town, Gagarin Way, Navigating and Features of Blown Youth for the New Theatre, The Mystery of Irma Vep at Darlinghurst Theatre Company and Handbag for Focus Theatre. Between 2006 and 2007 Mason designed three productions for Newcastle’s regional youth theatre company Tantrum Theatre; Savage Naked Love, Powerforce Live and Riot!. His work in youth theatre extends to a role as designer and wardrobe manager to the NSW Public Schools Primary, Junior and Senior Drama Ensembles for The Arts Unit of the Department of Education between 2005-07. In 2007 Mason received rave reviews for his period costume design of Sunday in the Park with George for Railway St. Theatre Company, later receiving a nomination for best costume design at the Sydney Theatre Awards. Television work includes a stint as assistant designer on the Big Brother Series 4 and 5 and Endemol’s Ready Steady Cook. Film credits include the production design of The Herd’s I Was Only 19 music video, and costume design for Lovers Dusk, directed by Danielle Zorbas. His work as a stylist can be seen in music videos for bands Red Riders, Dapples Cities & The Cops; and artists Kate Alexa and Abby Dobson.
Recent fashion editorial includes styling credits in Yen and Culture Magazines.
Mason now divides his time as a full-time event stylist, freelance editorial stylist, promoter, online commentator and man-about-town now stalking the streets, lanes and alleyways of Melbourne.
I work in a role that is constantly shifting and searching for definition. Every day brings a whole new set of challenges, all of which are undertaken in collaboration with a team of individuals, artists visualising and creating for a common cause. this is what is most inspiring. A production designer is responsible for the cohesive aesthetic of a piece, whether it be film, theatre, television series, event or editorial. They discover the path of the visual narrative, and develop new forms of visual language with every creative they collaborate with. This they juggle with the rigid structure of budgets and funding, finding the most interesting, cost effective and creative solution for every challenge.
“ Every project is a love affair and that is what I live for. ”
Curriculum Vitae
Education and Training
2003. National Institute of Dramatic Art, Sydney. Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Design).
Theatre Production
June 2007. Set and Costume Design. Riot! by Vanessa Bates, Stefo Nantsou, David Brown and Sarah Gava. Produced by Tantrum Theatre.
March 2007. Costume Design and Supervision. Sunday in the Park with George by Sondheim and Lapine. Produced by Railway Street Theatre Company.
*Nominated Best Costume Design. Sydney Theatre Awards 2008.
October 2006. Set and Costume Design. Powerforce Live (devised). Produced by Tantrum Theatre.
June 2006. Set and Costume Design. Savage Naked Love (devised). Produced by Tantrum Theatre.
October 2005, 2006 & 2007. Design and Wardrobe Management. NSW State Drama Ensembles. Produced by NSW Department of Education – The Arts Unit.
June 2005. Set Design. Handbag. By Mark Ravenhill. Produced by Focus Theatre.
January 2005. Set and Costume Design. The Mystery of Irma Vep. By Charles Ludlam. Directed by Brendon Macdonal. Produced by Darlinghurst Theatre.
October 2004. Set Design. Features of Blown Youth. By Raimondo Cortese. Produced by New Theatre.
September 2004. Set Design. Navigating. By Katherine Thompson. Produced by New Theatre.
August 2005. Set Design. Gagarin Way. By Gregory Burke. Produced by New Theatre.
June 2004. Set and Costume Design. Our Town. By Thornton Wilder. Directed by Lee Lewis. Produced by New Theatre.
November 2003. Costume Design. Random Play. Choreographed by Gavin Mitford. Produced by Sydney Dance Company.
October 2003. Set and Costume Design. Diamond Eye a Musical. Directed by David Hollwood. Produced by Railway St. Theatre Company.
June 2002. Set and Costume Design. Into the woods. by Sondheim and Lapine. Produced by Out of the Blue Inc.
Film Production.
July 2007. Costume Design and Stylist. Shining Star. Abby Dobson Music Video directed by Danielle Zorbas.
April 2007. Costume Design and Stylist. Vision Bell. Dappled Cities Fly Music Video directed by Danielle Zorbas.
November 2006. Costume Design. Call Me Anytime The Cops Music Video directed by Danielle Zorbas.
October 2006. Stylist. A.S.P.I.R.I.N. Red Riders Music Video directed by Danielle Zorbas.
July 2006. Stylist. Somebody Out There. Kate Alexa Music Video directed by Jonathan Worsley.
Febuary 2006. Production Design. I Was Only 19 Cover Track. The Herd Music Video produced by Broken Yellow.
September 2005. Costume Design. Lovers Dusk. Short Film directed by Danielle Zorbas.
May 2005. Art Director. It Lasts. Karl Broadie Music Video produced by Broken Yellow.
January 2005. Pre-visualisation. Satisfaction. Feature Film in development Directed by Jonathan Worsley.
July 2004. Art Department. Ra Choi. Independant Feature Film directed by Michael Frank. *Official Selection Sydney Film Festival 2006.
Television Production.
August 2005. Assistant Designer. Ready Steady Cook. Produced by Endemol Southern Star.
December 2004. Assistant Designer. Big Brother Series 5 produced by Endemol Southern Star.
October 2004. Design Assistant. Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. Television Awards Event. Produced by Team Events.
December 2003. Assistant Designer. Big Brother Series 4 produced by Endemol Southern Star.
Freelance Editorial.
October 2010. Online Contributor. ninemsn travel. ‘Spring hits Me’bourne: hit back!’ tourism article. www.travel.ninemsn.com.au.
September 2010. Stylist. Culture Magazine Volume 12 No. 4. ‘Primary Colours’ photographed by Zac Steinic.
July 2010. Stylist. Yen Magazine Issue #45. ‘Victoria Gothic’ photographed by Zac Steinic.
April 2010. Online Contributor. Oyster Magazine. Interview with Tahita Bulmer (Lead Singer – New Young Pony Club). www.oystermag.com
2009/2010. Melbourne Online Correspondent. Tangent Magazine. Weekly online articles relating to Melbourne fashion. www.tangentmag.com
Below is a small ‘teaser’ of my collected work. Please click to enlarge.
