Alan Cumming and Hugh Bonneville back campaign to save Edinburgh costume degree

Alan Cumming, Hugh Bonneville, and Iain Glen have joined a public campaign to stop the University of Edinburgh from shutting down its Performance Costume degree.

The actors are lending their voices to a growing protest against the university's plan to close the specialist course, which is run by the Edinburgh College of Art. Supporters warn that axing the programme will cut off a vital pipeline of talent for the British stage and screen.

The Performance Costume course has long been regarded as one of the UK’s premier training grounds for designers and makers. Graduates regularly go on to work on major international film productions, West End theatre shows, and television dramas.

Why the course matters to the industry

The campaign to save the degree has quickly gathered momentum, drawing support from prominent figures across the performing arts. Opponents of the closure argue that performance costume is a highly technical, distinct discipline that cannot simply be absorbed into broader fashion or design courses.

Alan Cumming, the Scottish actor and director, has been particularly vocal in his support. Alongside him are Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville and Game of Thrones actor Iain Glen, both of whom have highlighted the essential role that skilled costume designers play in bringing characters to life on screen and stage. Without specialized training programmes like Edinburgh’s, campaigners argue, the UK creative sector risks losing its competitive edge.

The campaign has also attracted thousands of signatures on a public petition, with students, alumni, and industry professionals urging the university management to reverse the decision.

What happens next for the university

The University of Edinburgh has faced scrutiny over its broader financial and academic planning, with staff unions and student groups increasingly concerned about cuts to arts and humanities subjects. While universities across the UK are grappling with funding pressures, critics of the Edinburgh decision say that cutting a highly successful, niche programme like Performance Costume is a short-sighted move that damages the institution's reputation.

The university has not yet confirmed the precise timeline for phasing out the course, or how it plans to support current students through to graduation. Representatives for the university have yet to offer a detailed public justification for targeting the costume course, though campaigners remain hopeful that the high-profile intervention of actors like Cumming, Bonneville, and Glen will force a rethink.