Rachel Young

Biography

Rachel studied Theatre Practice: Costume Construction at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Then worked for several years as a freelance Costume Maker. Rachel combined making and teaching short courses in a range of costume and prop costume specialities including body padding, hat making & embroidery.

Rachel has made costumes for the Frozen Musical, Sexy Fish (The Ivy restaurant), Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Drag Performer La Voix, The Queens Theatre Hornchurch, Rainbow Productions, alongside adverts, events, and numerous commissions.

Rachel has worked at numerous Higher education Drama schools including Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Mountview and East 15. And for the past 7 years Rachel has established and run the BA(Hons) Costume Construction Degree from University Centre South Essex (UCSE) based at the purpose-built Bob and Tamar Manoukian Costume Centre at the High House Production Park in Purfleet. This course was set up and taught in collaboration with the Costume Team at the Royal Opera House. Graduates of this course are currently working on The Crown, Marvel and Various TV/Film and Theatre Productions around the UK.

Whilst at UCSE, alongside teaching Rachel worked in multiple roles on productions as costume supervisor, wardrobe manager and costume production manager. These included circus productions at The Roundhouse Camden, site specific performances in and around Thurrock for the Thurrock 100 productions over 2018/2019 and most recently working alongside students for the Queen Platinum Jubilee parade for June 2022. Collaborations recently have included three different National Trust Properties around the UK, Kinetika Carnival Arts and the Beecroft Arts Gallery in Southend.

Rachel completed a Post-graduate Certificate in Academic Practice in Arts Media and Communication in Higher Education; through UAL and through this gained a Fellowship to the Higher Education Academy. Rachel is about to undertake a PHD through Guildhall looking at sustainable costume practices and works to establish a sustainable approach to costume in performance making that can make a change and shift perceptions to the climate crisis.