Oscar-winning Aussie dresses to impress for Siegfried & Roy: The Unauthorised Opera

Oscar-winning costume designer Tim Chappel is no stranger to sequins and ruffles, so he is the obvious choice to dress the stars stepping into Siegfried and Roy’s shoes in Sydney.

Before there was Tiger King, there were Siegfried and Roy— and now, the famous pair are back, sort of, on a Sydney stage, dressed up by one of the country’s most renowned costume designers.

The story of the big cat-loving duo Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn, from humble beginnings right up until they hit superstardom in Las Vegas in the 1970s, has been translated into Siegfried & Roy: The Unauthorised Opera at the Sydney Festival.

The comedic retelling, which stars Aussie opera singers Kenen Breen and Christopher Tonkin in the starring roles, even features the career-ending 2003 mauling of Roy by their beloved white tiger Mantacore - this time, luckily, just a life-size puppet.

Behind the sequins and the ruffle cravats in the production is Academy Award-winning Australian costume designer Tim Chappell.

Thirty years since claiming his first Oscar, Chappel continues to shine in the world of fashion and design. While actors and directors often steal the spotlight, Chappel’s contributions to film and television have been nothing short of extraordinary.

In 1995, at just 25, Chappell won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Since then he has created over 5,000 costumes for a range of projects including TV show The Masked Singer and several musicals.

Oscar-winning costume designer Tim Chappel. Picture: Richard Dobson

Tim Chappel at Opera Australia’s costume department in Surry Hills. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I actually don’t have a favourite,” Chappel told Confidential.

“I’ve made thousands of costumes, mostly very wild, glamorous, bright and glitzy. I’m enjoying doing doughty period pieces at the moment, making the middle bit from the 50s and 60s.”

Now 57, Chappel’s journey began in high school, where he sold handpainted costumes at the famous Paddington Markets in Sydney.

“It was the coolest place to be in Sydney — maybe even in all of Australia,” Chappell said.

“Every Saturday there would be a line of punks with their multi-coloured mohawks sitting out the front and I used to hand paint my fabrics so that was how I made money.”

Kanen Breen, the Helpmann Award-winning tenor being fitted by Tim Chappel. Picture: Richard Dobson

From his market stall to fashion college, Chappel’s career trajectory took a leap forward when he began dating a producer, which led to his first big break working on East Street on Channel 10 and designing Chelsea Brown’s wedding dress.

“And that’s history,” he said.

The new Siegfried & Roy musical is part of the 2025 Sydney Festival. Picture: Richard Dobson

Chappell’s newest designs will be centre stage for performances of the opera show at the Sydney Theatre Company until January 25.