“How’s your sex life Darhhhling?” It’s a question perhaps not often asked in places such as Opera Australia, but this was Maruska Blyszczak’s disarming calling card through the many facets of her life. But in spite of her hilarious and outrageous repartee, Maruska was an intensely private and scrupulously professional woman. Her costumes will be an enduring legacy that she leaves behind, the dedication, passion and meticulous eye for detail all present in every piece she created. Her true gift was for men’s tailoring, an understanding of the male physique and how to dress men for the stage so they both looked immaculately in character but also had comfort and the ability to move and perform accordingly. She was a fantastic teacher and mentor who loved any opportunity to pass on her knowledge and skills. Her dedication and high quality of work led her to receive the Green Room Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.

Maruska Blyszczak. Photographs supplied

Maruska was born on July 23, 1943 to parents who both worked in the theatre. She grew up in Poland and as a teenager lived in a boarding school and studied at the Technical School of Costume Making. She came to Australia...