LIFE as a theatre dresser takes a Sale woman to glamorous locations around the world.

When Shrek was on tour, it took Catherine Richardson several hours to put on his special costume.

And after layers of makeup left the character virtually helpless, Catherine supplied food, drinks or whatever he needed.

“All the costumes in that show had lots of zips and accessories,” she said.

The 42-year-old gave up a 10-year acting career to get the job of her dreams.

She said: “I just fell out of love with acting but I always knew that I wanted to work in the industry.”

She worked front of house at the Palace Theatre for two years before a friend told her about a dresser vacancy and she successfully applied.

She said: “They gave me a chance and I started with Oliver in 2012. I looked after 38 children ­— three sets of about 12. The kids were lovely and I knew immediately that was what I wanted to do."

She dressed the ensemble in the following South Pacific and Phantom of the Opera.

Before each show every dresser is given a plot showing the order of costume and who is wearing what. She has to get the unworn costumes in order and hang the worn ones in a different wardrobe.

“Getting the tops and trousers right for Dirty Dancing was fiddly,” she said.

“By the end of the show you get so slick you can do it by heart.

“If something goes wrong all the back stage workers muck in. We become a little family,” she said.

The leads she dressed in Dirty Dancing, Shrek and Wicked all keep in touch.

“I am looking forward to doing Book of Mormon in June,” she said.