Performance Design and Film Costume Welcome Guide

Preparing for your course

We're delighted to have you join us at Arts University Bournemouth, and hope that your time here will be rewarding, challenging, creative and enjoyable.

Welcome to BA (Hons) Performance Design and Film Costume

This welcome pack is designed to give you an idea of what to expect during the first weeks of your course. Please take the time to read it carefully and take particular note of what's required for pre-course preparation. We hope that you'll enjoy a happy and productive time with us, and we look forward to meeting you.

A message from your Course Leader

Congratulations on achieving your place on BA (Hons) Performance Design and Film Costume (PDFC) at AUB!

The course will begin with an induction week, when you'll have the opportunity to meet staff and current students, find your way around the university, discover Bournemouth and learn more about studying at AUB. The course is delivered over 30 weeks with the usual Christmas and Easter breaks.

We look forward to welcoming you and helping you settle in to the PDFC community.

- Dr Jon Croose, Course Leader

Before you join us

The Library at AUB is extremely well resourced and includes all key texts that you'll need. The list below indicates the key texts that will be useful throughout your studies, all available from the Library at AUB.

You might want to borrow a copy from your local library to look at before you arrive.

You'll receive a comprehensive reading list in the Course Handbook when you arrive and at the start of each unit. The seven books listed below (digital and hard copy versions available in the AUB Library) are suggested to get you started.

Bettina, J. (2021) Costume Design for Performance. Ramsbury: The Crowood Press.

Counsel, C. & Wolf, L. (2001) Performance Analysis, An Introductory Coursebook. London: Taylor & Francis.

Cunningham, R. (2009) The Magic Garment: Principles of Costume Design. Illinois: Waveland Press.

Fortier, M. (2002)Theory/Theatre: An Introduction. London: Psychology Press.

Huaixiang, T. (2004) Character Costume Figure Drawing: Step by Step Drawing Methods for Theatre Costume Designers. London: Focal Press.

Nadoolman Landis, D. (Ed) (2012) Costume Design. Burlington: Focal Press

Schechner, R. (2013) Performance studies: An introduction. London: Routledge.

There's no summer project, but we recommend that you practise your drawing, read around your subject, attend some theatre productions, watch some films, and visit some exhibitions and art galleries.

If you'd like to practise your drawing but don’t know where to start, the book Character Costume Figure Drawing: Step by Step Drawing Methods for Theatre Costume Designers (Huaixiang, T. 2004) is highly recommended to develop your costume and figure drawing.

Abstract: The Art of Design
Episodes on Ruth Carter and Es Devlin

Netflix

A journal article from Costume, The Journal of Dress History or Studies in Costume and Performance.
This will help you begin to understand costume within an historical, social and cultural context.

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Character Costume Figure Drawing: Step by Step Drawing Methods for Theatre Costume Designers (Huaixiang, T. 2004).

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Current student work

Have a look through some of the work our current students are producing to get an idea of the type of work you may be making on our course.

Model of a stage set, including a balcony going all around.

Design model of a stage set, with a small spiral staircase leading up to a balcony with a little figure on it.

Set model showing interior and exterior locations with transparent miniature figures scattered around.

Two people in school uniform sitting on a bench eating pastries.

Four people in period naval costume. One is standing on a top deck, shouting and pointing up.

Set design model showing a bed in the middle with figures on it, and steps leading up to platforms on both sides.

Set design model for a library scene with two floors, steps leading from the ground to the first floor and figures scattered around on both floors.

Coloured sketch of a period-style costume with hand-written annotations.

Coloured sketch for a character's costume design with handwritten annotations. Title appears in the top-left corner "Simon Lord of the Flies".

Coloured sketch for a character's costume design with handwritten annotations. Title appears in the top-left corner "Sam and Eric Lord of the Flies".

Two sketches for character costume design. The word "Eilis" goes vertically along the bottom-left side. The title "See No Evil" appears in the top-right.

Illustration of a woman in a leopard print coat and black gloves smoking a cigarette.

A series of design sketches for a costume's apron, with handwritten notes.

Design sketch for a character's costume with long flowing sleeves and boxing gloves, with annotations.

Costume design sketches for two characters with handwritten notes and annotations. Text appears along the top "Peithetairos & Euelpides".

Sketchbook page showing various sketches, photos and handwritten notes and annotations.

Coloured design sketch for a character wearing a unique dress. Handwritten title reads "Beaulieu Palace House Buckler's Hard".

A model viewed side-on wearing a headdress with a ship in it.

A person standing against a plain background in an 18th century-style costume and wig.

A person standing against a plain background in 18th century costume.