Costume
“It is the Costume Supervisor who, with skill, expert knowledge and technical understanding, will realise the vision of the Designer from first costume sketches to the finished product on stage.”
- Dick Bird, Costume and Set Designer
Costume students at Guildhall School gain an overall understanding of all aspects of the costume industry. This unique pathway will enable you to follow the costume process from design to realisation on stage.
As a Costume student, you will:
- Explore a broad range of relevant skills including costume design, construction, alterations, dyeing, ageing and distressing; fabric sampling, millinery, hair and make-up, styling; costume fittings, dressing, and running wardrobe; costume sourcing, hiring and buying; costing, budgeting and administration
- Work alongside professional costume designers and supervisors, and learn costume craft on fully staged drama and opera productions
- Have the opportunity to enhance areas of costume practice on placements, making projects and realised productions
- Research the history and culture of fashion
- Discover technical areas of film and television costume
- Focus on practice for costume industry employment
Studying on this programme you will learn a broad range of skills including:
- Pattern cutting & making
- Dyeing and breaking down techniques
- Fabric sampling
- Bone bodice making
- Millinery
- Alteration and embellishment skills
- Hair and make up for performance
- History of costume & research
- Styling for TV
- Costume sourcing, hiring and buying
- Wardrobe maintenance
- The effect of lighting on costume
- Costume fittings
- Costume design
- Budget management
Costume students work on Guildhall drama, opera and musical productions as Costume Supervisors, Costume Assistants and Dressers, and work alongside professional designers and directors. Students are also taken on field trips (Bath Museum of Costume) and backstage theatre tours (e.g. Phantom of the Opera and English National Opera). Guildhall has an excellent relationship with professional hire houses, such as Angels Costumiers and the National Theatre.
What you will study
Year One
Skills classes mentioned above are realised through practical based teaching classes, project work and production work. You will work as dressers on two Guildhall productions during your first year.
Along with all other students in the programme, the Costume students take classes in a broad range of core subjects. These include: Theatre History, Period Style, Contemporary Theatre, Health & Safety and Stagecraft & Production Process. Classes are usually project based and wherever possible have a hands-on, practical approach. For example, when studying trends in contemporary theatre we’ll take you to see some shows, and when we’re looking at period styles we’ll take you to galleries and museums to look at examples.
Associated Studies
In the first year you will also take a core module called Associated Studies, which allows you to take three short courses in other areas of technical theatre such as Stage Management, Prop Making, Lighting, Sound, Video, or Scenic Art.
Year Two
The study on the second year of your costume course is entirely practical. You will undertake the role of Costume Assistant and may have the opportunity to work with the Wig & Make-Up Mistress on some productions.
You will also have the opportunity to spend time working in two of the areas you studied in Year One Associated Studies.
Year Three
Third-year students will take on the Head of Department role of Costume Supervisor. You will lead teams of first and second year students and take responsibility for productions from the initial planning stage through to the final performance. Students also have the responsibility of working with large costume budgets.
You will also undertake a four/six-week professional work placement within the theatre, film or TV industry.
You will complete a Graduation Project which is an independent project of your choice and could embrace Costume Making or the opportunity to Costume Design a small scale production at Guildhall.
Recent Work Placements
Recent work placements undertaken by Costume students include:
- National Theatre costume buying department
- English National Opera dyeing and breaking down department
- Costume departments at Chichester Festival Theatre, Donmar Warehouse and the Young Vic
- Costume department for The Crown and Sloane Square Films
See more examples of recent work placements.
Future Careers
Potential careers for Costume students include:
- Designer
- Supervisor
- Dresser
- Fitter
- Stand-by
- Running wardrobe
- Co-ordinator
- Textile artist
- Buyer
- Maker
- Cutter
Read about career possibilities after graduation.
What the industry says:
“Angels is always delighted to offer Guildhall Costume Course students the opportunity to hire stock for their third year productions. Not only does it give them invaluable first-hand experience of working with a costume house, to a budget and to deadlines, but it also gives us an opportunity to meet our future customers.
“I have always found Guildhall Costume students not only enthusiastic in their approach to work but to have the highest standards and be highly professional in the way they approach each production.”
- Richard Green, Production Director, Angels The Costumiers
What our students say:
“Guildhall offers extremely practical based teaching and every production is treated as if it was a professional show. It's a very supportive environment where you're allowed to make mistakes. I have also been given countless opportunities through this course already; seeing a huge variety of shows, going on backstage tours and getting work experience across London.”
- Megan Rider, Costume graduate 2019
“Guildhall was an invaluable experience that pushed me to be the absolute best I could be. Through hard work and perseverance the training prepared me to go into the industry with self confidence and belief in my own abilities. It has given me the tools, support and knowledge to work in places I never thought I could. I will always be grateful for the opportunity. It was a brilliant experience that I’ll never forget.”
- Izzy Ribbeck, Costume graduate 2019, Costume Assistant on Rip It off, West End
Costume Instagram
See the work that we do on the Guildhall Costume Instagram for an insight into what happens in the Costume department.
Find out more & apply
