Costume Breakdown

Book Now

• Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged
• Bookings will close at 5pm on Sunday 9 July 2023 or when the course reaches full capacity
• Please note that accommodation in Sundial Court isn't available in 2023

Ages 16+

Course Dates & Times

Monday 24 July – Friday 28 July 2023
10am–5pm

About Costume Breakdown 

This five-day course is ideal for anyone interested in costume for performance. The course will introduce you to the costume ageing process that is used to create character and signify a time in history. With the expertise of the course tutor, Vanessa Lingham, Costume Lecturer at Guildhall School, you will bring your designs to life through the costume ageing process and leave the course with your own body of work to take home with you. You will learn through creative exploration and experimentation.

Who is the course for?

• Anyone interested in costume and the performing arts
• Anyone interested in developing their knowledge of costume for performance
• Anyone with costume experience looking to advance their creative practice
• Potential students interested in fashion, style and dress and thinking of applying for higher education in costume
• Experience in the practice of costuming would be beneficial but not essential

What can I expect?

The course will be a combination of group training sessions, discussions and practical demonstrations led by the course tutor. You will create a character and design a costume showing a story through realistic ageing and distressing of clothing. You will realise your costume design through individual creative practice and textile artistry.

You can expect to learn about:

• The costume realisation process
• The costume ageing process for stage and screen
• Products used in costume breakdown and how to apply them in the costume realisation process

You will receive a costume breakdown kit, which you can personalise, use on the course and keep for future work. By the end of the course you will have completed an aged costume that can be added to portfolios. 

Do I need anything for the course?

• Notebook
• Sketchbook
• Laptop/tablet if possible
• Scissors
• Pens and pencils

Course Fee

£565

Participation Bursaries are available for this course (Please note the application deadline for participation bursaries is 12 June 2023.)

Book Now

• Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged
• Bookings will close at 5pm on Sunday 9 July 2023 or when the course reaches full capacity
• Please note that accommodation in Sundial Court isn't available in 2023

Eligibility

• For everyone aged 16+
• No prior experience required
• Participants must have sufficient English language skills to cope with course demands

About the Course Tutor

This course is taught by Vanessa Lingham, Costume Lecturer, Guildhall School.

Vanessa Lingham is a Costume Lecturer on the BA (Hons) Production Arts programme at Guildhall School and specialises in performance costume. Before dedicating her work fulltime to Guildhall School, Vanessa worked as a costume freelancer in the British Film and TV industry.

Vanessa is a current doctoral candidate at Guildhall School investigating the work costume does in representing Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities and people on stage and screen. Vanessa’s practice research seeks to build alliances with people from GRT communities who are using their creative practices to neutralise stereotypes and raise the profile of GRT in the performing arts.

Vanessa holds a distinction in Masters of Arts: History and Culture of Fashion, from the London College of Fashion. She has published in the peer-reviewed journal Fashion, Style & Popular Culture, Intellect.  She has a PGCert in Performance Teaching and core foundation skills in coaching and mentoring for artistic training.