Costume Supervisor’s Toolkit

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

• Table of ContentsList of IllustrationsForeword by Carol LingwoodAcknowledgementsList of contributors:IntroductionThe Costume Supervisor as FacilitatorStructure of the BookChapter 1 What does a Costume Supervisor do? The Theatre Team StructureDefining the RoleChapter 2 Different Types and Genres of ProductionLarge Scale Production of a Classic Twentieth Century PlayChallenges Presented to the Costume SupervisorModern British Musical Pantomime in a Large Provincial TheatreChallenges Presented to the Costume SupervisorStudent Faculty Production of a Restoration Comedy in a Site Responsive VenueChallenges Presented to the Costume SupervisorChapter 3 Developing Good Communication SkillsGetting HiredFirst Design Meeting with Director, Designer and Production managerListeningChapter 4 Setting Up Your TeamLeadershipCostume Roles and ResponsibilitiesSetting up the Finance and Cash Flow for Your ProductionChapter 5 BudgetingCreating a Costing SheetEstimating Fabric QuantitiesAccessing Cash for Shopping ExpeditionsReceipt ManagementPurchase OrdersChapter 6 First Rehearsal and creating the Costume BibleFirst RehearsalTaking Accurate Measurements and Etiquette Rules to be Observed When Measuring ActorsRecording Information in the Costume BibleChapter 7 Sourcing: Construct, Hire or Buy? Costume Hire StoresShoppingChapter 8 Managing the Rehearsal ProcessFittingsCreating a Calm Fitting SpaceChapter 9 Pre- tech rehearsalTech WeekWorking with the Running Wardrobe TeamEpilogue: Final Thoughts AppendicesAppendix 1 Fabric Identification GuideAppendix 2 The Costume Supervisor’s ContractAppendix 3 Gender Specific Measurement FormsTable Appendix.3.1 [Male Measurement Form] Table Appendix.3.2 [Female Measurement Form]Appendix 4 Sizing GuidesTable 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 InstructionsBibliography: Notes:Production Credits: Glossary of Terms: Useful Addresses: Index: List of Illustrations with Figure Captions, Cases, Illustrations, or TablesAuthors Biography