1st Edition
The Costume Supervisor’s Toolkit Supervising Theatre Costume Production from First Meeting to Final Performance
The Costume Supervisor’s Toolkit explores the responsibilities of a Costume Supervisor within a theatrical, opera or dance production company. Rebecca Pride provides an insight into all manner of processes, beginning with a definition of the role, and offers explanations of the timeline from the first design meetings, leading all the way up to managing fittings and final rehearsals. This how-to guide outlines best working practices, including building a team and creating a Costume Bible, whilst also providing helpful resources such as sizing guides, a list of useful addresses, and case studies from renowned theatrical organizations.
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
Foreword by Carol Lingwood
Acknowledgements
List of contributors:
Introduction
The Costume Supervisor as Facilitator
Structure of the Book
Chapter 1 What does a Costume Supervisor do?
The Theatre Team Structure
Defining the Role
Chapter 2 Different Types and Genres of Production
Large Scale Production of a Classic Twentieth Century Play
Challenges Presented to the Costume Supervisor
Modern British Musical Pantomime in a Large Provincial Theatre
Challenges Presented to the Costume Supervisor
Student Faculty Production of a Restoration Comedy in a Site Responsive Venue
Challenges Presented to the Costume Supervisor
Chapter 3 Developing Good Communication Skills
Getting Hired
First Design Meeting with Director, Designer and Production manager
Listening
Chapter 4 Setting Up Your Team
Leadership
Costume Roles and Responsibilities
Setting up the Finance and Cash Flow for Your Production
Chapter 5 Budgeting
Creating a Costing Sheet
Estimating Fabric Quantities
Accessing Cash for Shopping Expeditions
Receipt Management
Purchase Orders
Chapter 6 First Rehearsal and creating the Costume Bible
First Rehearsal
Taking Accurate Measurements and Etiquette Rules to be Observed When Measuring Actors
Recording Information in the Costume Bible
Chapter 7 Sourcing: Construct, Hire or Buy?
Costume Hire Stores
Shopping
Chapter 8 Managing the Rehearsal Process
Fittings
Creating a Calm Fitting Space
Chapter 9 Pre- tech rehearsal
Tech Week
Working with the Running Wardrobe Team
Epilogue: Final Thoughts
Appendices
Appendix 1 Fabric Identification Guide
Appendix 2 The Costume Supervisor’s Contract
Appendix 3 Gender Specific Measurement Forms
Table Appendix.3.1 [Male Measurement Form]
Table Appendix.3.2 [Female Measurement Form]
Appendix 4 Sizing Guides
Table Appendix.4.1 [Male Suit Size Guide]
Table Appendix.4.2 [Female Size Guide]
Table Appendix.4.3[Shoe size Guide]
Table Appendix.4.4 [Glove size Guide]
Appendix 5 Basic Excel Instructions
Bibliography:
Notes:
Production Credits:
Glossary of Terms:
Useful Addresses:
Index:
List of Illustrations with Figure Captions, Cases, Illustrations, or Tables
Authors Biography
Biography
Rebecca Pride is Course Leader for the award-winning BA (Hons) Costume and Performance Design course at the Arts University Bournemouth. She spent 15 years prior to her career as an academic, working as a costume and set designer in the professional theatre. Her work at the Arts University has included producing numerous costume-led film projects, including Wimbledon Championships 1936-1937, Storytelling from an original point of view, Glass slippers, La Passarella, Reverie, Vampyr and Moulin Rouge.
Pride’s research and development of the book is not only exceptionally thorough, but accurate and relevant to the role of costume supervisor. As a practical guide, the book takes a detailed, logical approach to exploring and clarifying the role of the costume supervisor in the theatrical costume production process. By using a methodology based on comprehensive interviews with working practitioners, Pride has ensured that the information presented is based on the experiences of working practitioners at the top of their profession.
-Corinne Heskett, Studies in Costume & Performance, Volume 5 Number 2, 2020