Hair and Beauty Showcase kicks off Evolution City Fashion Festival weekBy Gareth FinighanCity Hall's Earl Cameron Theatre has staged plenty of chilling dramas throughout the years, but last night's production could truly be described as hair-raising — without an actor uttering a single line.Models rather than thespians trod the boards and the undoubted stars of the show were those working behind the scenes — hair stylists and make-up artists whose skills were celebrated in a Hair and Beauty Showcase.The event kicked off the Evolution City Fashion Festival, which will promote the work of scores of designers in a series of events in Hamilton this week.Last night's performance saw more than 50 models strutting down a makeshift catwalk, sporting extravagantly coiffured locks and glamorous face paint that had been teased and applied by artists from five of the Island's top salons.The stylists created a show that featured scores of characters — from power women armed with what must have been the biggest, most threatening bouffants ever to get through City Hall's doors, to unnerving aliens whose tresses were other-worldly.But not everything was futuristic or unfamiliar. Traci Witherbee of Bersalon and make-up artist Christopher Vee put on a show that celebrated the highs of fashion in past decades. Everything from 1920s crimped bobs, towering 1960s beehives and fluorescent punk spikes from the 1970s were on display in their eclectic collection.The pair had started work at 10am and finished just minutes before the curtain went up at 7.30pm“It was a lot of work — nine-and-a-half hours — but we had a ball and everybody seemed to love it because it was something that everybody could relate to,” Mr Vee, who works with Ms Witherbee out of The Club in Paget, said.“We didn't want to do anything that was too avant garde or over the top. We did what we do best, which is beauty.”Miss Witherbee added: “It just went really well, really amazing. It was great to be able to take part in an event like this that gives us an opportunity to showcase what we can do.”The week continues tonight with An Evening With Rebecca Minkoff at the Hamilton Princess, when the spring/summer collection of the handbag and accessories designer will be shown.And tomorrow evening, 200 Evolution Fashion Show models will add a splash of glamour to Harbour Nights when they parade through Hamilton.The Hamilton Princess will be the venue for the Local Designer Showcase on Thursday and the week will climax with the Evolution Fashion Show at City Hall on Saturday, followed by an afterparty at Pier 6.For further details and tickets, visit www.bdatix.bmFor more pictures of the Evolution Hair & Beauty Showcaseclick here and Mannequin Monday clickhere