It was great to welcome Jordan Windsor-Marvell and Jeanette Hockley from Greenwood Wealth Solutions, our Top Hat show sponsors, for the unique opportunity to step behind-the-scenes and explore the captivating world of costume with Deputy Head of Wardrobe Helen Flower (known to us as Flower).

As Flower explains, each production begins with a designer (or designers in this case!) and a costume supervisor, who work together to bring the visual world of the show to life. Every detail is carefully considered: can we make it, buy it or hire it? 

For Top Hat, many of the costumes have been custom made. With the show set to tour after its Chichester run, durability is key. From high-kicking choreography to quick costume changes, every piece must be crafted to withstand the demands of performance after performance. 

Enter the ‘Costume Bible’, a meticulous reference guide that records everything from fabric source and cost per metre to design proportions. It ensures consistency when costumes need to be recreated, whether due to wear or cast changes. 

But not everything is new… Sometimes, personal connections can open doors to unique solutions. As was the case with the fabulous feathery headdresses used in Top Hat by the chorus girls. Originally made for Gypsy at CFT in 2014, they make a brilliant reappearance in the classic 'Top Hat White Tie And Tails' and showcase how reusing costumes in this way is not only economical and green but still packs all the glitz and glamour you could possibly want.

The footwear is equally integral and selections equally measured. Performers wear specially selected Laduca shoes, with added taps fitted by skilled cobblers and can be stretched for comfort. During fittings, actors and the costume team work collaboratively to perfect the fit, adjusting as the show and choreography evolves. A corset might gain or lose boning depending on the physical demands of a scene. Every detail has to be considered. 

The busy wardrobe department doesn’t rest once the costumes have all been made. Backstage is a flurry of activity throughout the show, especially in ‘quick change village’ (Flower’s term for the area where rapid costume changes occur). Each actor has a dedicated chair and box, with their costumes arranged in precise order behind rail dividers. Accessories, shoes and those all-important hats are kept in place, ready for split-second swaps. 

And speaking of hats, each of Top Hat's titular pieces comes from Lock & Co, a historic London hat shop. Known for the quality of their build, these hats are not only stylish but a smart investment, designed to keep their shape throughout the run.

Jordan, a Financial Advisor at Greenwood Wealth Solutions, said, ‘Flower's talk was brilliantly insightful. You’d be amazed at all the attention to detail that goes into getting a show dazzling on the stage. And I can't believe that there is such a small team working on all the costume changes throughout the show! It was clear to see how much planning goes into every aspect of the wardrobe department's development of the costumes. It’s a part of the show you might take for granted but it brings the whole live experience together.’

Peter Greenwood, Principal, said ‘CFT provides something for everyone, and Greenwood Wealth Solutions is privileged to be part of its ongoing success by sponsoring Top Hat this year. We have been providing specialist advice to our clients in Chichester for the last 17 years, and we are proud to demonstrate our committed support for the Chichester arts community through our continued relationship with the theatre' 

Our sincere thanks go to Greenwood Wealth Solutions for their continued support – with Top Hat marking their third year as sponsor of CFT’s Summer Musical – and to the team for joining us for this glimpse into the magic of theatre-making.