We want you to be a versatile and creative costume maker with the advanced technical construction skills to produce costumes for all types of performance.
You advance your costume construction skills through our range of taught modules and apply these in practical projects. Our two show seasons maximise your potential for learning ‘on the job’. You also learn about associated research techniques and examine your career development priorities. By the end of the course, you should graduate as a competent costume maker with a strong portfolio ready to take your place in the performing arts landscape.
Stand out from the rest with our exceptional and rewarding BA (Hons) Top-Up degree.
During this one-year technical arts course, you’ll undertake a production role, which you will have selected, in your chosen specialism on one of our productions or short films.
With our support, you’ll undertake a significant work placement project where you’ll develop further professional practice and make vital connections within the industry.
The third requirement is a dissertation module, where, with our help, you will choose, define, research and complete a project of your own. You can either produce a 12,000-14,000 word dissertation, or a 6,000-7,000 word dissertation alongside a practical project and a 1,000 word report.
This course is aimed at both costume-making and costume supervising.
Costume-making
We teach costume-making from first principles, from basic sewing skills, pattern-cutting and grading, through to the finished product. The basic sewing skills are organised in five levels:
- Hand sewing, seams, hems, fastening
- Pattern matching, tucks, cording, pleats and gathering, buttonholes, eyelets, false lacing
- Openings, bias rouleaux and piping, facings and using bias
- Fastenings (zips and fly opening)
- Pockets
Although some time is given to completing all levels, you will be expected to work on them outside teaching hours.
All these skills, as well as other maintenance and alterations, are practised throughout the course by working on all the RADA public productions as assistants. This improves work speed and gives experience in working with different fabrics and vintage costumes from our store, as well as working with professional designers and directors.
The forms of pattern-cutting we teach are flat (block), cutting on the stand, and draping – although investigation into further forms is also encouraged, such as going straight to fabric, sizing up from a grid, and taking a pattern from an existing garment. You will also learn pattern manipulation and grading throughout the course.
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, firstly with the second year BA (Hons) Acting students as part of a short Shakespeare project, which is toured around schools in the London area. You will then have the opportunity to supervise two or three RADA professional performances, or a film project.
We also provide experience of other elements of a wardrobe department. There are introductory classes in hair and make-up, wig knotting, history of costume and costume props, fabric treatments and props skills.
Ideal if you've already completed Level 2 Media Makeup but you want to put your skills to work in TV and theatre, this course will give you the skills you'll need to produce stunning effects, face and body art.
On this course you'll:
- Learn makeup techniques for day, evening and special occasions
- Learn a range of makeup within the creative industries, including photo shoots and body art
- Create character makeup
- Enhance your face & body art skills
- Apply cosmetic camouflage makeup
- Enhance your overall design skills
- Study hair styling and beauty units
- Theatrical and special effects
- Create makeup for cuts, bruises and burns
- Create casting prosthetics and bald caps
If you want to become a makeup artist for television, theatre, events, or fashion magazine shoots our Media Makeup courses are the place to start.
Develop your hair-styling skills and learn the art of professionally designing and applying make-up. You'll grow your portfolio by applying the knowledge you gain in hair-styling and beauty treatments.
On this course you'll:
- Learn make-up techniques for day, evening and special occasions
- Learn a range of makeup within the creative industries, including photo shoots and body art
- Create character makeup
- Enhance your face & body art skills
- Apply cosmetic camouflage makeup
- Enhance your overall design skills
- Study hair styling and beauty units
The work of the costume constructor is to interpret the given costume designs, whether period or modern, abstract or representational. Students on this course will learn to be sensitive to the stylistic intentions of the designer and director, and how to research and understand the time, place and narrative of the production through analysis of the scripts or creative concepts.
Alongside training in high level and diverse making skills, students will also learn and develop skills in time management, resource management, budgeting and scheduling, working closely with students of all other theatre disciplines to realise productions.
On the Costume Construction pathway of BA (Hons) Theatre Practice, you will:
- Develop skills in costume interpretation and creative
- Learn pattern drafting, women’s and men’s costume making, hat making and accessories
- Undertake costume supervision and placements with professional companies and designers
- Work closely with students of all other theatre disciplines to contribute to the overall understanding of performance and theatre production.
Technically skilled and creatively inventive ‘makers’ are an essential part of any production team, sensitive to the stylistic intentions of the designer and director. The training will principally be in theatre, but these skills are widely transferable to different environments, including television, film and major live events.
On the Drama, Applied Theatre and Education (DATE) course, you can:
Perform in, direct and devise theatre, explore performance that takes place outside traditional theatre environments. Make theatre to change lives and inspire change in communities . Build industry contacts worldwide through placements and outreach projects. Develop skills in areas such as facilitating, devising, directing, performing, playwriting and filmmaking.
Applied Theatre at Central is highly regarded internationally and the Drama, Applied Theatre and Education (DATE) is a world leading course that will train you as a highly adaptable theatre maker. You will focus on performance making in diverse settings such as community centres, parks, prisons, pupil referral units, refugee camps, hospitals, playgrounds, schools and nursing homes, in the UK and abroad. Such innovative work aims to bring about change in communities and participants from all walks of life.
We believe that excellent professional applied drama theatre makers are skilled practically, intellectually and come from a diverse set of backgrounds themselves. We work with you to help you meet the challenge of developing your practice and intellectual abilities. You will have the opportunity to develop skills in areas such as facilitating, devising, directing, performing, playwriting and filmmaking.
Are you interested in Hair, Make-up or Costume? Then step this way!
The Extended Diploma in Production Arts covers Theatrical Hair, Make-up and Costume Design for performers. You will have links to our Hairdressing, Beauty, Art and Design and Fashion teams. You will study units such as: Fantasy Hair, Period Hair & Wig Making, Applying Make-up, Special Effects Make-up & Prosthetics, Designing Costumes and Period Costumes for Performance. During the course, you will work with Performing Arts students to create and apply Hair, Make-up and Costume for a variety of performances.
