The costume department at the National expands far beyond the main workroom where the ladies makers and gents tailors make costumes. There's also a dye shop, wig department and costume propmaker. Crucial to the process of putting on shows are the dressers and maintenance staff in the running wardrobes.

Costume props

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.