costume assisting for stage

Take a look through my past costume assisting projects for stage

Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage

Based on the book by Philip Pulman, the play was a steampunk-inspired parallel universe with the soul manifesting as an animal called a demon.

With a large cast, multi-roling, and almost one puppet per character, this was my exciting but challenging first step into costume assisting. I was tasked with creating an Alexander McQueen-inspired dress for the witch Tilda Vassara among other responsibilities.

Designer (Set & Costume)
Amy Lewis

Director
Zoë Templeman Young

Puppet Designers & Makers
Alexandra Kay
Jodie Yates

Lighting Designer
Ren Liberta

Costume Assistants/Dressers
Amy Adair, Rosie Berry, Rose Thomas

Photographer
Kirsten McTernan

Company
Richard Burton Theatre Company (RWCMD)

Theatre
Bute Theatre (end on proscenium)

Date
Winter 2022

Responsibilities Included

Costume sourcing

Costume construction (Witch’s dress)

Alterations

Hair styling

Costume Bible management

Show dressing

A reformation-era play written in 1993 by April De Angelis was centred around the famous actress and mistress to King Charles II of England, Nell Gwyn.

With both comedy and tragedy the play was my first experience of working strictly within a historical period whilst costume assisting. I worked heavily in styling wigs for both the male and female performers as well as appearing on stage for some choreographed costume changes.

Playhouse Creatures

Costume Designer
Emily Cantwell

Set Designer
Alberto Aquilina

Director
Patricia Lodge (with Jac Ifan Moore)

Lighting Designer
Yasmin Alayoubi

Costume Assistants/Dressers
Amy Adair, Ysabelle Clason Morgan

Photographer
Simon Gough

Company
Richard Burton Theatre
Company (RWCMD)

Theatre
Richard Burton Theatre

Date
Winter 2023

Responsibilities Included

Costume sourcing

Alterations

Wig styling

Hair styling

SFX makeup

Costume Bible management

Budget management

Show dressing (including on-stage costume changes)

A reimagining of the classic fairy tale with a sustainability narrative The Little Mermaid was a vibrant contemporary musical, including dancing, puppets and aerial acrobatics.

I was tasked with creating the costumes for Coral and Serina, who needed high-stretch costumes that didn’t look like sportswear, as well as some wacky alterations.

The Little Mermaid

Designer (Set & Costume)
Ruby Pugh

Director
Miranda Cromwell

Composer
Femi Temowo

Lighting Designer
Zeynep Kepekli

Costume Assistant
Amy Adair

Photographer
Johan Persson

Company
Bristol Old Vic

Theatre
Bristol Old Vic

Date
Winter 2024/25

Responsibilities Included

Costume making (Coral & Sereia)

Alterations

Sourcing

Costume maintenance

A musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic tragic love story. The traditional text was combined with rap and R&B inspired new writing to create a rugged modern world of political divide.

As wardrobe assistant and dresser for the show, I was in charge of ensuring the actors had everything they needed for each show, were supported during quick changes, and laundry was completed each day. There were also instances of quick alterations when understudies were used, and on-the-night maintenance. Additionally, I created the detailed lists of costumes per performer for the costume bible, as well as a comprehensive dresser plot, ready for the show’s move to Hackney Empire in London.