BA (Hons) Costume Interpretation with Design graduate Christina Marshall worked on the award-winning Netflix series Adolescence. The series shot to popularity when it was released on Netflix earlier this year and recently won major awards at the Emmys; including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Stephen Graham and Outstanding Support Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for the youngest winner to date Owen Cooper.
Alumni Christina, who graduated in 2021, worked for the costume department for the final episode of the series, she said the opportunity came about because she “had previously worked with Jess, the costume designer on a TV series called Sexy Beast in 2022. Prior to Adolescence, I was contracted on a children’s TV series which her partner was also working on. He mentioned to Jess that I was available as the kids job was wrapping up. The supervisor then got in contact and booked me for the final episode of the series.”
Outlining her tasks she commented, “my time there involved, helping to dress the supporting artists and making sure they looked presentable for set. As Adolescence was shot in one take, checks had to be done very thoroughly at the beginning of the take and then whilst the camera was rolling, we could not disturb the flow of the episode.”
She described the project as “an extremely collaborative job” and commented on the positive nature of the set saying that she “really enjoyed spending time with the costume team and crew members on set. I felt so valued and appreciated, the production really cared about everyone and it was such a lovely environment to be a part of.”
Reflecting on projects that lead to this role she said “meeting Jess on the tv series Sexy Beast, led me to working on the series. I had also completed some daily work for Jess on Boiling Point which was filmed in 2023. I feel very fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time to be asked to work with such a lovely costume team.”
When asked how much she felt her degree impacted her ability to work in the industry she replied “I do not believe I would have got into the industry without having studied Costume at the Northern School of Art. Sewing, constructing and researching the history of clothing at my time at university, has helped me massively when working in the industry. Over the last four years, I have sewed garments from scratch, completed tricky alterations and embellished lots of different costumes. My confidence has developed a lot since being in the industry which started to develop throughout university. My tutors Jane, Ian, Sally and Fran were so supportive and really believed in me.”
She said that her advice for the costume students graduating this year “is to say yes to any opportunity that comes your way, be genuine and the right people will find you.”
Christina next project will be on a film set, “I will be supervising a film which begins prep in November. This will be my third supervising position and first time costume supervising a film!”
Keep up to date with Christina’s work on Instagram – @christinamarshall @christinacostume
Our BA (Hons) Costume Interpretation with Design degree offers students the skills and opportunities needed to carve out successful careers in the stage & screen industries. Alumni from this programme have worked on world famous sets and stages across the country and internationally. Find out more here.