Dyeing fabrics and printing on material of various kinds are two skills at the centre of work in the dye room. The dyers also do a lot of ‘breaking down', or making costumes look as if they have been worn over an extended period of time.

Dyeing - breaking down

Costumes are crucial to any production. They can be sewn from scratch, bought on the high street, or made by altering other clothes. In the National Theatre's Costume Department, a staff of designers, dyers, tailors and buyers work together to produce outfits for every character in every show.