The end of an era

They had a sale at Costume Hire last Saturday. Every so often there has to be a bit of a clear out, but this was much much bigger. For this time it is moving, out of the ramshackle old Maltings building, an old warehouse, used for many years as props store, rehearsal rooms, and costume hire. Freezing cold in winter, and boiling hot in summer, with a lift that you wouldn’t advise a person to ride in, it probably didn’t meet any health and safety standards. But it had character. And space.

The move is to the refurbished De Grey rooms; much more convenient being right next door to the theatre, but with a lot less room for the costume store. And so a lot of the stock had to go. I know how heartbreaking it must have been to decide what had to go, and what to keep. I also knew that it was unlikely that much that would actually fit me would be on offer (and that, sadly, my fabulous suit from the War Weekend wouldn't be)

But still I found myself, on a sleety, snowy February morning standing in a queue waiting for the sale to open. I got there about half an hour before opening time and the there was already a queue halfway down the yard.

Once in, I tried to remain focussed, in the face of people already emerging with arms full of costumes I recognised. I was heading for 1930’s and 40’s, just in case any favourite outfits were on the rail, then period dresses, furs, and period tops and skirts, then accessories.

There was very little room for manoeuvre, or browsing, it was more of a case of grab – I spotted a dress I recognised, from Les Liaisons Dangereuses, a fantastic hat from The Cherry Orchard, a couple of tea dresses (one of which turns out to be too short waisted for me, a fox fur (admittedly rather a cross-eyed one), a coat, and pair of shoes which will pass for 1940’s.

I deposited my armful just as other friends were making it through the door. Having purchased (let's not dwell on just how much I spent, ok?), I made my way back in to help them go through the rails.

J found a nice suit, which will be good for wartime, and we rescued a couple of dresses of the 'in need of care and attention' rail, some of which were originalfrom the 1930's and 40's. I also ended up with another dress, green satin with beading, which is an original 1960's cocktail dress.

As I looked around there were so many things that have memories. The fringed dress from Cabaret that I wore for a Murder Mystery, Mary Magdalene's outfit from the Mystery Plays, Cinderella's dress from John Doyle's last production as Artistic Director, Into the Woods, dresses from The Importance of Being Earnest, Amadeus, The Snow Queen, Charley's Aunt, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and so many pantomimes. Bags, shoes, shawls, what looked like a whole wall of ties, belts, braid, scraps of material.

As I saw everything going, part of me was glad that it was going to people who will hopefully appreciate it, but part of me was very sad that I'll never see some of these costumes again. In fact, I'll probably never go to the Maltings again, and that place itself has so many memories. I had my Mystery Plays audition there, and I worked there for nearly 3 years.

Amidst all this, Pauline said to me 'I didn't think you'd be able to bear to come!' We exchanged a hug.

'I had to.'