Friday 19 - Sunday 21 September 2025
at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama/ Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru, Castle Grounds, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3ER
The sixth UK Costume Symposium will present three days of talks and workshops by leading costume specialists from major film and television productions, at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama/ Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru from 19 – 21 September 2025.
The Costume Symposium is run by Susannah Buxton (award-winning costume designer for film and television) and Mary Davies (film lecturer and event organiser) to promote costume making and the associated skills vital to theatre, opera, film and television, and bring together designers, makers and costume students from across the country to exchange ideas, learn from experienced practitioners in the field and celebrate their art.
Keynote speaker for the Talks day (Friday 19 September) will be Anthony McDonald, who has worked internationally on many performances as a director and designer across theatre, opera and dance. In 2023, he was nominated for the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera for his Alcina design staged at the Royal Opera House. Also speaking will be costume production manager and costume supervisor Carol Lingwood, who works across theatre, film and events and was Head of Costume at the UK’s National Theatre for over twenty years. Carol will talk about A Day in the Life of a Costume Supervisor.
Simon Lewis will present a demonstration on tying men’s neckties and there will be a panel discussion in which industry professionals will discuss how to bring sustainability into costume design and making.
Two days of practical workshops (Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September) will be led by Sean Barrett (Millinery), Gillian Carew (Men’s Period Tailoring) , Michele Carragher (Embroidery Embellishment), Enda Kenny (Dyeing and Enhancement), Kunza (Corsetry), Riina Oun (Handmade Gloves), with a new tutor, Mo Clouting (Costume Making for Stop Motion Animation). The workshops offer an unrivalled opportunity for makers to develop their skills. Find out about the workshops here.
The symposium will run from 9.00am to 5.30pm each day. A sandwich lunch and tea and cake will be provided on Friday 19 September.
Registration - participant fees
Costume students (BA and MA) are eligible for a lower rate for participant fees.
Participants in the workshops will attend one workshop running across two days.
3 day pass: Talks day plus two workshop days 19, 20, 21 September 2025
3-day pass (regular rate): £330
3-day pass (student rate): £285
2-day pass: Two workshop days only 20, 21 September 2025
2-day pass (regular rate): £220
2-day pass (student rate): £190
1-day pass: Talks day only 21 September 2025
1-day pass (regular rate): £110
1-day pass (student rate): £95
Registration deadline 29 August 2025
Registration form
Click to download registration form (Word document) – fill this in, save with your name in the file name and email to costumesymposiumuk@gmail.com
Click to download registration form (pdf document) – download, print, fill in by hand, scan, save with your name in the file name and email to costumesymposiumuk@gmail.com
