Dyer and Textile Artist Rosie Maccurrach demonstrates the dyeing of Medea’s bloodied and mud-stained dress, worn by Helen McCrory in the final scenes of the 2014 production of Medea.

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.