As Head Buyer for the Costume Department, Ashley Holtom spends most of her time outside the office, tracking down items of clothing or accessories for costume designers, costume supervisors and other costume department staff.

Costume bibles

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.