Diane Favell

This course is for those who have an interest in making costume for performance in TV, theatre and film. It is aimed at those who would like to build on existing knowledge in this field and it assumes previous experience in patternmaking and both hand and machine sewing. You will cover a general overview of significant periods in British costume history and how these are used in current trends in performance, looking at significant collections and publications available for research and reference. You will look at 18th century, early 19th century and Victorian costume and learn how to cut a pattern on the stand for each period, also learning different sewing techniques appropriate to each period, for example, boning, binding, smocking and frogging. In the final stage of the course, you will choose one of the patterns you have created and take it to the toile stage (making the pattern up in calico for fitting). By the end of the course you should be able to identify a costume from the 18th and 19th centuries, cut an appropriate pattern and take it to the toile stage. You will also have enriched your knowledge of the sewing techniques used in the make up of period costume.

Diane Favell studied at Southgate and London college of Fashion and had several years within the theatre profession as a costume maker/supervisor before joining RADA in 1995 where she became Head of Wardrobe in 2002. Seeing the Wardrobe department grow into a teaching department, Diane developed and teaches on a 2 year Specialist Costume course at RADA, as well as teaching on the other many and diverse theatre and film based courses within the Academy.