Theatre Costume

This course is aimed at both costume-making and costume supervising.

Costume Making We teach costume-making from first principles including basic sewing skills, pattern-cutting and grading, through to the finished product. These skills, as well as other maintenance and alterations, are practised throughout the course by working with peers and professionals on all the RADA public productions as assistants. Through this you will improve work speed and gain experience in using different fabrics and vintage costumes from our store.

You will learn pattern manipulation and grading, block pattern cutting, cutting on the stand and draping and encouraged to explore other forms. Some garments are taken through to completion as class projects, including corsetry, ruffs, period shirt tailoring and millinery. Others form personal projects in the second year, which are supervised, although you will be expected to work semi-independently in preparation for professional work.

Costume Supervising Costume supervising is taught in the classroom with script analysis, budget skills and communication and management skills. It is also practised in conjunction with other students and with the opportunity to supervise two or three public performances.

We also provide experience of other elements of a wardrobe department, including introductory classes in hair and make-up, wig knotting, history of costume and costume props, fabric treatments and props skills.

The course also includes a research project where you will choose an area in the world and research the fashions during a given period, including influences such as political, environmental and world events.

Timetable and workload The MA Theatre Costume is comprised of eight modules studied across two academic years. Practical modules form the backbone of the programme, featuring work on public productions.

This programme is taught in-person, with at least 35 contact hours per week on average. Production periods may require longer hours, including evenings and weekends.

Training is mostly onsite at RADA with occasional online and offsite sessions.