Fashion and Textiles students from South Staffordshire College create costumes for Lichfield Players Dracula production

Costumes created by Fashion and Textiles students at Lichfield College, South Staffordshire College’s creative campus, have appeared on stage at the Lichfield Garrick in Lichfield Players’ latest production of Dracula.

The live project gave the Fashion and Textiles students an opportunity to work to a real creative brief and apply their skills in a professional setting while collaborating directly with theatre practitioners throughout the production process.

Simon Horton, Director of Dracula, visited the college regularly to present the brief and review the students’ progress, offer feedback and share professional insight into the production’s costume requirements. Working closely with him helped the students to understand the client expectations, respond to feedback, and develop work for a live audience.

The quality of the students’ work received praise from both the production team and local reviewers. Speaking about the partnership, Director Simon Horton said he was “truly over the moon with the work” and praised the enthusiasm and commitment shown throughout the project, adding that every visit to the college left him with “elation and excitement”.

The costumes also received special recognition in a review by Lichfield Radio, which described them as “wonderful costumes that bring a real edge to the characters”, adding that “the attention to detail is outstanding”.

The collaboration extended beyond the Fashion and Textiles department, with Photography students documenting the project from development through to dress rehearsals, capturing the creative journey behind the production.

Faculty Director Chris Hopkins said “Projects like this give our students an invaluable opportunity to experience the realities of working in the creative industries. They have not only developed their technical skills but have also learned how to work with clients, respond to feedback and deliver professional outcomes. Receiving such positive feedback from theatre professionals and reviewers is a fantastic achievement and something they should be incredibly proud of.”

The students will also showcase their work in an exhibition later this year, highlighting the design journey from initial concepts through to the finished costumes seen on stage.

Building confidence, developing professional skills and preparing for careers in the creative sector are central to South Staffordshire College’s approach to industry focused learning. The theatre partnership demonstrates that commitment in practice.