Discover behind-the-scenes secrets, ask your burning questions, and enjoy rare access to the exhibition while it’s closed to the public.
This once-in-a-lifetime exhibition features many costumes never seen in public before. Helena Bonham Carter in A Room with a View, Meryl Streep in Out of Africa, Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey, Colin Firth as Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, and Leslie Manville in Mrs Harris Goes to Paris. Join Keith as he delves into the rich history of legendary London costume house Cosprop who have become synonymous with dressing iconic characters in award-winning films and television.
The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes of this celebrated costume house. Through stunning costumes, accessories and sketches, the tour will share the design and making process from script-to screen.
Hear how Cosprop has changed the way that costume is designed and created. Founded by Oscar and BAFTA-winning costume designer John Bright in 1965, Cosprop specialises in period costume for film, television and theatre. Through his work as a costume designer, a costumier, maker, advisor, collector and historian, Bright’s intelligence and eye for detail is in thousands of film, television and stage productions.
‘We entered Cosprop as ourselves and walked out as the person we were playing.’ – Helena Bonham Carter
Tours take place while the exhibition is closed to the public and are limited to 20 people. The tour will last around 45 minutes and attendees are welcome to view the exhibition once the tour is finished.
The exhibition is accompanied by the book The Costume House: The Inside Story of Cosprop by Keith Lodwick – ON SALE NOW!
About the curator
Keith Lodwick is a writer, curator and theatre and film historian. He is the former Curator of Theatre and Screen Arts at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. At the V&A, Keith was the assistant curator for the major exhibition Hollywood Costume (2012) and he curated the touring exhibition Vivien Leigh: Public Faces, Private Lives. Keith has contributed to a wide range of publications including The Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Film and Television Costume Design (2025), George Hoyningen-Huene (Thames & Hudson, 2024), DIVA (V&A, 2023) and Studies in Costume and Performance (Bloomsbury, 2021).
infoInfo
Confirmation email: Once you have made a booking, you will receive a confirmation email detailing all the information you will need prior to your event, this is your event ticket. You will also receive a reminder email one week prior to your event.
Event details: Please check your confirmation email for the start and finish times of your event. Upon entry, please present your ticket(s) on your device or a note of your booking reference number. Exhibition entry is included in your ticket, you are welcome to view the exhibition before or after the event.
Eating and drinking: No food or drink is permitted in the Museum, other than bottled water. The Fashion and Textile Museum is located in the heart of Bermondsey Street, surrounded by award-winning restaurants, cafes and pubs. So, if you would like to enjoy a meal or a drink before or after your visit, there is plenty to choose from.For more information, check out our plan your visit page or our FAQs.