Making Stage Costumes: A Practical Guide [Paperback]

Tina Bicat (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2001

Written by a well-known costume designer, this book is for anyone who would like to create costumes for the theater, whatever their experience or their budget. Topics include understanding the structure and work of a theater company; making the best use of production meetings; coping with budgets; decoding the costume clues in a script; setting up and equipping a workroom; finding costumes at thrift shops and flea markets; altering modern clothes for period productions; using and adapting commercial patterns; and developing simple sewing skills. Tina Bicât has worked as a costume designer for The Royal National Theatre, The New York City Ballet, The English National Opera, as well as for fringe theater groups, television, and film.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Written by a well-known costume designer, this book is for anyone who would like to create costumes for the theater, whatever their experience or their budget. Topics include: understanding the structure and work of a theater company; making the best use of production meetings; coping with budgets; decoding the costume clues in a script; setting up and equipping a workroom; finding costumes at thrift shops and flea markets; altering modern clothes for period productions; using and adapting commercial patterns; and developing simple sewing skills. Tina Bicât has worked as a costume designer for The Royal National Theatre, The New York City Ballet, The English National Opera, as well as for fringe theater groups, television, and film. DESCRIPTION: A hands-on guide to making costumes for the theater, featuring more than 150 photographs and diagrams. With a Foreword by David Hare.

About the Author

Tina Bicat has worked for the Royal National Theatre, New York City Ballet, English National Opera and regional theatre around England. her work has included large-scale productions with casts of hundreds, one-man shows, giant puppets, masks and carnival effects. She also works with the drama students of St Mary' University College at Strawberry Hill.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Crowood Press (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861264089
• ISBN-13: 978-1861264084
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,555,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Practical and Essential Handbook, March 14, 2004

By 

Christine McLachlan (Queensland, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Stage Costumes: A Practical Guide (Paperback)

The author makes clear this is not for "experienced costume makers with time, money and skill at their disposal. It is for designers,students,teachers,actors and anyone who needs and wants to make costume for performance but has little money or technical expertise".
It is comprehensive, covering the topics of: structure of a company and preproduction work , setting up a workroom, basic equipment, how to sew,understanding and altering patterns,fittings,basic costumes,large casts and small budgets,accessories,modern clothes for period productions.altering body shape,technical and dress rehersals and has many helpful tips.
It is well set out,clearly written with easily understood diagrams. There is a good index and a small but good bibliography.
As a wardobe mistress for a community(ie amateur) theatre company with a very small budget, I can sincerely recommend this book. It is the best of its type I have seen. For anyone starting out ,buy it and even those with a bit of experience will probably find it worth a look at to pick up useful hints,