Real human hair is bought from a hair merchant and stored in the Wig Department.

Staff in the Wig Department are always learning new skills for creating different styles of wigs.

Beards, moustaches, eyebrow hair, sideburns and even armpit hair are all examples of smaller hairpieces which may need to be made.

Hairs on a wig are knotted individually or in small groups into the foundation. Avoiding tangles can be tricky!

All the wigs made at the National are kept in big plastic boxes in the storeroom, as many can be adapted to suit another show at a later date.

The Wig Department is responsible for hair, wigs and special effects make-up. Wigs are quite often worn when a character needs a particular hairstyle but doesn't have natural hair which is entirely suitable. The National handmakes its wigs, and most are made to measure or adapted from existing stock.