Explore our theatre facilities with Guildhall students
Working with professionals at Guildhall provides you with well-respected industry contacts – I’ve been a Costume Daily on Downton Abbey
Shannon Martin
BA Technical Theatre Arts (Stage & Costume Management pathway)
Guildhall has provided so many opportunities that I didn't expect when I applied. The mentor programme has also been hugely valuable to me.
Andrew McDonald
BA Technical Theatre Arts (Theatre Technology)
I chose to come to Guildhall because I wanted to become a set designer. Guildhall helped me understand who I want to be and how to get there.
Alena Tryapitsyna
BA Technical Theatre Arts (Design Realisation)
The School is the right mix of everything – supportive staff, positive work environment, world-class facilities and bespoke opportunities.
Saatvika Kantamneni
MA Collaborative Theatre Production and Design
We run like a company with each student taking on a professional role. I feel this really prepares us for the outside world
Laurie Lumley
BA Video Design for Live Performance
The projects we work on are real - we are in effect constantly getting work experience
Laurie Lumley
BA Video Design for Live Performance
The facilities available to students to create are almost unimaginable
Carreen Walton
MA Collaborative Theatre Production and Design
It's the scale of productions that really makes Guildhall stand out. It gets to the point where you think, wow, this is massive. In other places, you just wouldn't have that opportunity to learn on the job.
Sian Clare
BA Technical Theatre Arts (Costume)
I had the opportunity to work with the BA Video Design for Live Performance course on an installation project in the chambers below Tower Bridge. It was a completely unique experience.
Liam Strong
BA Technical Theatre Arts (Theatre Technology)
“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 a broad based understanding of all aspects of the costume industry. This unique pathway will enable you to follow the costume process from design to realisation.
As a Costume student, you will:
Explore a broad range of relevant skills including costume design, construction, alterations, dyeing, ageing and distressing; fabric sampling, 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 projects and productions
Undertake a Costume for Design Project
Have the opportunity to enhance areas of costume practice on placements, making projects and realised productions
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
Alteration and embellishment skills
History of fashion
Styling
Costume sourcing, hiring and buying
Wardrobe for performance
The effect of lighting on costume
Costume fittings
Costume design
Understanding costing and budgeting
Costume students work on a variety of different productions, events and digital projects.
What you will study
Year One
The first year involves Practical and Design based skills and projects. You will also work on one production as a costume assistant / trainee.
Along with all other students in the programme, the Costume students take classes in a broad range of core subjects. These include: History of Theatre, Critical Lens, 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 Critical Lens you will engage with international productions, exhibitions and interdisciplinary projects.
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 Production Arts 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 a number of practical Costume roles on Productions. You will also undertake a Costume for Performance, Design and Construction project. 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 one of the areas you studied in Year One Associated Studies.
Year Three
Third-year students will take on the Head of Department roles in Costume. 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 have the opportunity to undertake Costume Design roles and work with a wide range of professional practitioners.
You will undertake a four-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.
Costume in Productions
Go behind the scenes with our Costume teams to find out more about their work on our recent drama productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Pod.
Recent Work Placements
Recent work placements undertaken by Costume students include:
“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
