MA Historical Costume

Historical Costume supports and develops advanced practitioners who have the ambition to explore, challenge and redefine the relationship between a historical artefact and the redesign and interpreted costume in a contemporary context.

MA Historical Costume

MA Historical Costume engages the student in the potential of performance design and garment construction to explore complex ideas; some of which could stray into other areas of artistic experimentation. Students may come to the course with a background in costume, fashion, textiles or theatre/performance design or may have studied subjects from across the humanities including arts and performance. This master’s programme supports and encourages the student to investigate individual practice within an interdisciplinary framework, whilst developing a critical theoretical context for their work. The very special and unique nature of course delivery, through shared lectures, seminars, critiques and tutorials encourages both a ‘freewheeling’ atmosphere as well as an intense immersion in creative practice.

Whether students are interested in looking at historical influences or current socio-political issues related to dress, students will challenge the context of their study in design or historical costume construction within the broader framework of contemporary practice.

What you'll study

The course is supported by lectures and seminars in areas of dress history, construction and design to enable students to critically reflect on, and to consider the place of their practice within the discipline. Seminar discussion with a diverse range of artists will invite critique of students’ work. The intense testing of work and practice in a challenging but safe arena is a particular element of the MA programme and an innate strength of the learning process that is engendered at the Graduate School.

Areas of expertise and engagement with external professionals

The Undergraduate BA (Hons) Costume and Performance Design course is one of the leading courses in the UK specialising in costume construction, set and costume design (Scenography) and film costume design skills. These specialist areas of study contribute to the quality and breadth of practitioners that Masters students in MA Historical Costume have the opportunity to meet and engage with within the studio, seminar and lecture theatre.

All staff within the course team act as senior members of practice led societies including the Performance Design Educators Collective (PDEC) and The Society of British Theatre Design (SBTD) as well as OISTAT and USITT. All Masters students are invited to contribute to the course Industry Liaison Group (ILG) which will always include members from both the theatre and film industries.