The Magic of Costume Design

22 Sep · Backstage · 4 min read

Delve into the enchanting world of costume design and discover the artistry and creativity stitched into every seam at Lumen. Our costume room — two cutters, one dyer and a wardrobe mistress with thirty years of openings — builds nearly everything the audience sees.

From Sketch To Fitting

Every costume begins as a watercolour on the designer's wall, then a toile in calico, then a first fitting where the actor moves, sits, dances and falls in it. A Phantom cape is fitted three times; a Swan Lake tutu, five. Nothing reaches the stage until it survives a full run in the rehearsal room.

Dye, Age, Repeat

New fabric lies. To make a coat look lived-in, our dyer teas-stains, sands and sun-fades it — then the wardrobe team ages it further with every performance. The Les Misérables barricade coats have been distressed, patched and re-distressed for three seasons, and they look more honest each year.

“An actor walks differently in the right boots. Our job is finished when the costume disappears and only the character is left.”

— Marta Lind, Head of Wardrobe

See It Up Close

Costume open days run on the first Saturday of every month: handle the fabrics, meet the cutters, and try the famous chandelier-scale measuring tape. Then take your seat and watch the work move under lights — that is the real fitting.

See The Costumes On Stage

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