BA (Hons) Performance Design and Film Costume

The intention in this final year of study, is to work in a live context on Film or live performance projects. Students may focus on one specialism but are encouraged to collaborate on a combination of both areas of study.

The final year requires students to define the direction of their practice for the remainder of their studies. They are encouraged to refine their interpersonal skills and professional behaviours in a way that reflects industry expectations. This is because graduates from the course go on to work in every area of the performance industries as film costume designers, as well as performance designers in theatre, circus and festivals. Beyond the media and performance industries, graduates have been able to use their transferable skills to work in a wide range of fields including all levels of education, visual merchandising, marketing, arts administration and event production.

Research Dissertation completes students’ critical study as they explore a further aspect of theory by conducting independent research on a topic relevant to their costume and performance design practice. Students develop a research question and draft a dissertation of 5000 words that combines analysis of costume and performance design with historical research, cultural studies and critical theory approaches.

All students are registered for the award of BA (Hons); however, exit awards are available if you leave the course early, having successfully completed one or two levels. If you successfully complete a level of the course, you will automatically be entitled to progress to the next level.

For the award of a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 120 credits at Level 4. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the first year of your course.

For the award of a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 240 credits of which a minimum of 120 must be at Level 5. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the second year of your course.

For the award of a BA (Hons) you must have achieved a minimum of 360 credits of which a minimum of 240 must be at Level 5 or above, of which a minimum of 120 credits must be at Level 6. This qualification will be awarded upon successful completion of your course.

A BA without Honours may be awarded if you have achieved 300 credits, at least 180 of which are at Level 5 or above, and at least 60 of which are at Level 6.

In consultation with the Course Leader, staff are responsible for co-ordinating individual units of study, and for selecting appropriate methods of delivery according to subject matter and student experience.

The methods employed induct you to the disciplines required of a creative practitioner and promote the development of transferable skills.

The study time allocated to each unit in the course incorporates a balance of formal teaching, tutorial support and independent learning. The course is structured progressively to provide increased opportunities for independent learning as you reach the later stages of the course.

The progressive promotion of independent learning reflects your anticipated maturity as a student and allows you to direct your learning towards individual goals. The teaching is directed at providing you with the knowledge, concepts and skills to take increasing responsibility for the management of your own learning.

Although teaching is directed at supporting individual engagement in learning. There will be opportunities for you to work in teams to enable you to learn the value of peer co-operation.

The integration of theory and practice is promoted and reinforced through a team teaching approach. Lectures, seminars and tutorials may be delivered by team members, as appropriate, in the creative environment of the studio.

During your studies, you will have the opportunity to attend lectures and devised workshops from some of the industry leaders and top professionals.

In the past we have invited down a variety of guests to inspire and offer practical advice on a wide range of topics within the field of performance design.

• Consolata Boyle:
  Consolata Boyle was born in Dublin and is a graduate of archaeology and history from University College, Dublin. After graduation, Consolata trained in set and costume design at Dublin’s legendary Abbey Theatre. Consolata is a costume designer and producer and is best known for The Iron Lady (2011), Florence Foster Jenkins (2016) and Philomena (2013).
• Jenny Beavan:
  Jenny is an internationally renowned Costume Designer for film and has received 10 Academy Award nominations; winning the Oscar for costume design for the Merchant Ivory’s adaption of Room with a View in 1985 and Mad Max Fury Road in 2015. Numerous other films include The King’s Speech, Gosford Park and Sherlock Holmes. In 2018, Jenny received an Honorary Fellowship from the Arts University Bournemouth.
• Tamsin Fessey:
  Tamsin is an actor (including Warhorse at the National Theatre), director, movement director, writer and puppeteer. She has bases in London and Dorset and is also a founding member of Angel Exit Theatre Company where she has worked at times, with graduates from the course on numerous successful productions. Tamsin also loves contributing to other projects and working with other artists and has been a visiting tutor and director at the Arts University Bournemouth.
• Jay Francois Campbell:
  Jay Francois Campbell is an accomplished author, cutter, costume interpreter and skilled tailor. Jay trained at Central St Martins School of Art, London College of Fashion and Arts University in Bournemouth. She worked as a freelance before joining the Royal Opera House, where she was employed for more than 15 years in the ladies and men’s departments. In a career spanning more than 25 years, Jay has worked on more than 100 productions for TV, film, opera and ballet including: The Lion King, Les Misérables, and Phantom of the Opera.
• Simon Higlett:
  Simon is an award-winning set and costume designer whose work has been seen worldwide. He has worked at a wide range of theatre in the UK including much work at Chichester Festival Theatre, Sadler’s Wells, Leeds Playhouse, Almedia, Donmar and in the West End. Recent work includes The Argument and A Song at Twilight at Bath Theatre Royal and Big: The Musical and The Price in the West End.
• Catherine Kodicek:
  Catherine is a successful freelance costume Supervisor and was the Head of Costume at London’s Young Vic for many years. Catherine is a costume activist and founding member for the Costume organisation CITA, (Costume in Theatre Association). Catherine also regularly writes for The Stage publication.
• Jane Law:
  Jane is an internationally renowned costume designer, cutter and maker who has worked in the theatre and film industry for over 40 years, working regularly with designers such as Sandy Powell, Consolata Boyle and Jenny Beavan. Current and recent projects include: Mission Impossible 5, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Cinderella, Jupiter Ascending, Beauty and the Beast, Kate Bush; Before the Dawn and Mad Max: Fury Road. Jane was awarded an Honorary Master’s Degree from Arts University Bournemouth in 2016.
• Carol Lingwood:
  Carol worked as a Costume Cutter, Maker and Supervisor in TV and regional theatres including York Theatre Royal, Leicester Haymarket and the Palace Theatre, Watford. Carol became Deputy Head of Costume at The Royal Opera House in 1989 and Head of Costume at The National Theatre in 1999 managing a department of over 47 staff and producing over 20 shows per year. Carol is an Honorary Fellow of Arts University Bournemouth.
• Chrissy Maddison:
  Chrissy Maddison is a skilled Historical Cutter and Costume Interpreter. Chrissy is best known in the industry as a successful and prolific Costume Supervisor. She started her career at Leeds Playhouse, Yorkshire Working her way up from laundry duties to working with such luminaries as Ned Sherrin, Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Joan Plowright, Paul Schofield and Sir Alec Guinness. Chrissy’s West End Credits include Hello Dolly, 42nd Street, The Tempest and The Little Foxes.
• Tom Piper:
• Tom is an award-winning theatre designer who has worked extensively in the UK and abroad. He was Associate Designer at the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2004 to 2014 and as well as designing shows, Tom was closely involved in the redevelopment project in Stratford and also mentored the RSC Assistant designer scheme. One of Tom’s most prominent projects was the collaboration with the ceramicist Paul Cummins which saw thousands of giant poppies installed at the Tower of London in 2014.
• Caroline Pitcher:
  Caroline started her career in textiles which led her to create costumes for the puppets on the satire
  show Spitting Image in the 1980s. Since then, she has predominantly designed for TV comedy including Father Ted, Green Wing, Motherland, The Inbetweeners, White Gold and Smack the Pony.
  Caroline is also an expert on 50s fabrics and also runs a textile and ceramics business.
• Fiona Watt:
  Fiona is a freelance scenographer and educator. Since 2011 Fiona has been involved in programming and running international projects as part of the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space and World Stage Design. Fiona is the chair of the Society of British Theatre Designers (SBTD) and UK Performance Design Commissioner for OISTAT (International Association of Scenographers Theatre Architects and Technicians). Fiona is also the curator for Staging Places: UK Design for Performance 2016 - 2019 at the V&A.

They’re employed at some of the most prestigious organisations in the UK and internationally, including the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Pinewood Studios, Glyndebourne, Royal Opera House, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.

Our graduates go on to work in a variety of different roles, including:

• Costume assistant for the film industry
• Costume designer for the film industry
• Costume supervisor for the film industry
• Breakdown artist for the film and/or theatre industry
• Set and costume designer for theatre
• Costume designer for theatre
• Dresser for theatre
• Costume assistant for theatre
• Theatre designer’s assistant
• Photographic stylist
• Scenic artist
• Event designers
• Creative producers
• Costume Buyers
• Puppet designers & makers
• Festival designers & makers

Students studying this course achieve great things and have won prestigious and high-profile awards, such as:

• The Linbury Prize for Stage Design
• Brancott Estate World of Wearable Art Awards, New Zealand
• Podium Awards – Bronze Award for Successful Student Led Activity
• Podium Awards – Silver Medal in Creative Cultural Project Award