Costumes and Wardrobe
Almost every production needs specific clothing to suit the characters, and our wardrobe team make sure that our actors are properly dressed.
SBADS is fortunate to have a huge wardrobe of costumes, so many characters can be dressed from our stock. Nonetheless, we usually need new items to be sourced or sewn too, as there’s always someone who’s the wrong size, or a garment that needs to be of a particular period.
What’s involved?
Every actor will need one or more sets of clothing for each character that they are playing. Dressing them may be as simple as going through our wardrobe to find clothes in the right style that fit, or it may be necessary to alter or adapt existing garments. If we don’t have the right garments in stock, we will seek to buy or hire them: or we also make garments and accessories from scratch.
We always have a limited budget, so we have to be canny about making things look better than they really are.
The typical tasks involved are:
- Researching the period in which a play is set
- Taking cast measurements
- Finding appropriate garments and accessories from our wardrobe
- Finding appropriate items in charity shops
- Adapting garments for fit, adding embellishments, or transforming one garment into another
- Designing and sewing garments from scratch
What experience do you need?
None: SBADS is a great place to learn stagecraft. Some practical experience of sewing is useful, but not essential.
What skills do you need?
It’s really important to know that we don’t require experts – though they are always welcome! Our costumes are seen from a distance and may be worn only a few times, so unfinished seams, safety pins and roughly-tacked hems are more common than the audience would imagine. As long as you are competent in at least one skill, we can probably use you!
Any or all of these skills are useful:
- Knowledge of or interest in period costumes
- Hand and/or machine sewing
- Decorative finishing
- Repurposing garments
- Template drafting
- Pattern cutting
- Ability to find bargains
How do I get involved?
If you are not already a member, you can contact us to let us know that you are interested. If you’d like to chat to someone who’s already involved in this part of productions, let us know, and we’ll put you in touch.
If you are a member, then please make sure that your interest in this area is included on your membership records. If you want to update your membership records, then please fill in the membership form.
