The costume makers take great care to make costumes that look exactly like real clothes, even down to details that the audience can't see. This allows the actor to get into character and treat the garments as they would their own clothing.

Costume designers' initial designs

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.