With over 30 years of experience of working on live events, theatre, film and
television, Tahra Zafar has created award winning costumes, puppets, creatures and extraordinary creations that have become part of our collective cultural memories.

Theatre design and Live Experiences: Paddington the Musical, Paddington and
Puppet Design, for which she won a What’s On Stage award, 2026. Costume Design credits; Eugene Onegin (English National Opera), Gunpowder Plot at the Tower of London, Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony 2002. Set and Costume Design credits; La Boheme and Rigoletto (Mid Wales Opera) and The Rake’s Progress (Aldeburgh Festival). Costume and Character Design credits; In the Night Garden Live and Bing Live.

Film creature and costume effects credits includes: Wild Horse Number 9,The
Banshees of Inisherin, The Batman, The Last Duel, Star Wars VII: The Force
Awakens, Annihilation, X Men: First Class, Kick Ass, Antman III: Quantumania, Hell
Boy 2, The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s
Stone, Lost in Space and The Fifth Element.

Children’s TV characters and puppets: In the Night Garden, Zingzillas, The
Adventures of Abney and Teal and Moon & Me. 

Pop promos and tours: The Monster for Lady Gaga’s Monster Tour, Eddie for Iron
Maiden, Scissor Sisters for the Brit Awards and the dancing Milk Carton for
Blur’s Coffee and TV.

Commercials: Tahra created the original Monkey Sidekick for ITV Digital which later
became the PG Tips Monkey.

Live televised event credits includes: Tahra received a Royal Television Society
Award for her role as Head of Costume Hair and Make-up for the 2012 London
Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies, for which her team
delivered 23,000 costumes for the four ceremonies. 

Tahra trained in Theatre Design at Central School of Art and Design.