Bessie Allan

My current position is working on the ITV drama production series Emmerdale, as a Costume Trainee. My duties include preparing all garments ready for production, as well as dressing and fitting artists ready for set. My role is split between studio and location filming where I provide costume assistant duties to artists, making sure they are comfortable whilst performing, as well as assisting the production crew, when needed. I have worked throughout the pandemic so I understand all the current PPE and health and safety requirements in the costume department.

The skills I have gained at ITV, have progressed my ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Due to the pandemic my time on set at Emmerdale has been limited, so I am looking to gain more experience on set and use what I have learnt so far to develop my career further.

I studied Theatre Design at Nottingham Trent University, where I found my passion for costume.

I have excellent organisational skills, am very positive and highly motivated and approachable. I enjoy working alongside other members of different departments and my experience in design means I have a strong eye for detail and take initiative when faced with challenges.

In 2019 I worked as a Costume Trainee for Ali & Ava- A Feature Film with Moonspun Films. On this production I was mainly looking after SA’s on set on long location days/nights.

In 2019 I worked as a Costume Assistant and Standby on set for an Independent short film called ‘Letting go’ Written and directed by Louis Djalili.

In 2019 I designed and built the set and costume for a Nottingham College theatre production of ‘House of Many Tongues’. Having sole responsibility for the design of the production gave me, not only creative experience, but leadership and time management skills. It also taught me to be efficient in high pressure situations and always to be calm and approachable when working with production crew and artists.

In 2018, I worked as a Costume Assistant and dresser at Lakeside Arts Centre for a performance of ‘Lysistrata’. Here I worked mainly with the costume designer, scouting and creating 90’s punk costumes for an 18-person cast. I learnt a lot working on the various sides of production as well as improving my making and altering skills.