Careers in theatre

Costume designer

Stagework says:

The costume designer is responsible for designing all the costumes to be worn in a production. This involves close liaison with the set designer and the director to find a look and feel to complement their vision of a play. This tends to begin with finding appropriate reference materials–images, fabrics, textures, and period drawings–then devising costumes which achieve that within the budget available.

The answer may be to go shopping: clothes and accessories such as hats, gloves or jewellery may be readily available from a theatrical costumier, or high street shops or markets. Alternatively, it may mean creating something absolutely new. The designer leads a team of people in the wardrobe department with a wide range of skills including tailoring, dressmaking, millinery, and dyeing. Then comes the costume fitting, and last-minute changes ready for the dress rehearsal.

Find out more

Society of British Theatre Designers

Costume at RSC

learndirect

Costume Society

Costume archive at the National Theatre

Check out some real costume designer job descriptions

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