BA (Hons) Costume with Performance Design

THE COURSE
This course addresses design and manufacture for the performance industry with specific focus on developing a conceptual understanding of performance design. This is a diverse and demanding subject; students need to be interested in art, design and all types of performance to support the study of the dazzling array of genres they will encounter on this course, including theatre, film, television, ballet, opera, circus and the study of new performance disciplines.

As your study progresses you will engage in design for costumes and for set and realise costumes from your own and others’ designs. It is this breadth of study that makes the course so comprehensive. Whilst our graduates may not pursue a career in both design and making, we truly believe that the knowledge and awareness gained of the overall production process during the first stage of the course is what sets our students apart and gives them an edge in industry. The University College is a very exciting place to study; you will work alongside students from the film, make-up, and acting courses on staged and filmed productions. This is a very labour intensive subject and the workload is heavy. However, we provide a strong support network to all students in an inspiring and supportive environment.

RESOURCES
Students from all years use the studio space together and it is not uncommon to have different activities running simultaneously in our main studio. The creative industries work on a very high energy level and it is the same here. There might be a director on one side of the studio working on a script workshop and tailors and cutters creating complex costumes and patterns on the other side. Staff members have very different industry backgrounds with a diverse range of expertise and all have a specialism to offer. Tutors’ expertise in costume designing and in costume interpretation (making) covers all periods of history and genres of performance. We frequently have visiting tutors and industry professionals lecturing in the studio, which gives a broader awareness of the subject. Their real life experiences and opinions are a very important part of helping our students to understand the reality of the business and the level they will have to work at to be successful.

YEAR 1
Year 1 is intensively taught to give you the necessary technical and research skills to take charge of your own learning and explore and develop the subject areas that interest you.

YEAR 2
Year 2 is all about learning advanced technical skills, testing and challenging rules, and where appropriate breaking them! Boundaries of design are tested through the study of complex and challenging combinations of themes. You will also have the opportunity of undertaking a work placement. This experience of the ‘real world’ will inevitably help you to refine your ideas of the type of work you would like to pursue and which area of the industry most excites you.

YEAR 3
In Year 3 you will continue to expand your portfolio of skills in your chosen specialism and you will have the opportunity to work on film and theatre projects. The focus of this year is to prepare you for the area of the performance industry that most appeals to you; aiming to conclude the year with an excellent range of theoretical knowledge and practical experience and enabling you to graduate with a truly industry-relevant, professional cv.

This course is likely to offer a ‘Year 0' option in 2011 – 2012

INTERVIEWS AND PORTFOLIOS
Interviews are an opportunity for you to demonstrate to us your self-motivation and commitment to your area of study. Prospective students will also need to have good life drawing skills and the ability to use a sewing machine will be an advantage. Students entering the course are often recommended to possess a Foundation Diploma in addition to their A-Level grades; this is because the course requires a degree of skill, technical knowledge and conceptual understanding that cannot always be demonstrated through A-Level study alone.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR
First and foremost we look for passion. You will have to be hardworking and committed to this subject and should really want to study costume and performancedesign and want to study it here, at the Arts University College at Bournemouth. As well as good drawing skills, you should be able to show an understanding of costume and set in the context of theatre and film, and you should be an avid theatre and cinema goer.

SKILLS AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Work placements are an excellent opportunity to gain valuable industry experience to make important contacts and many students find that they return to their work placements for further employment. Students may also have the opportunity to study with one of our USA exchange partner universities and to take part in European exchange schemes. We also plan annual educational trips (for instance to the Venice Carnival or Broadway) to study live shows and costumes. A live performance show has been held annually in recent years, and Costume students also have the opportunity to work on other collaborative projects each year.

We are justly proud of our proven track record in progression to employment; our graduates now work in many major theatre workrooms, television studios and film sets around the world. Recent successes include graduates who have worked on high-profile productions such as the Harry Potter series. Graduates’ work has also been seen in numerous television drama productions including Poirot, Miss Marple, Cranford Chronicles and The Mighty Boosh. Two of our recent graduates were successful in securing the winning and runner-up places on the highly prestigious BBC Design Trainee Scheme. Graduates are also working at the Royal Opera House, The English National Opera, The National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Other students have progressed to postgraduate study.

COURSE DETAILS

Mode of Study: Full-time

Course Duration: 3 years

Institution Code: A66

UCAS CODE

W451

Year 0: W453

COURSE LEADER

Rebecca Pride

CONTACT

Admissions

Tel: 01202 363228/363225