Precious costumes, props rescued for theatre
Trapped for eight years since the Canterbury earthquakes and in uncertain condition, the Court Theatre’s historic costume and prop collection may see the footlights again.
The collection – including museum-quality Victorian pieces – has been sitting out of reach in the theatre’s old home in the ruined engineering block at the Arts Centre of Christchurch.
Yesterday, with repairs to the building under way as part of the $250 million Arts Centre restoration, teams from both organisations were able to begin rescuing the collection.
The Court Theatre now operates from temporary premises in Addington while it plans a new theatre in the central city’s performing arts precinct.
Arts Centre chief executive Philip Aldridge, who was co- incidentally chief executive of the Court Theatre at the time of the quakes, said the rooms storing the collection had been inaccessible and structurally compromised until now.
The rescue was ‘‘a marvellous occasion’’ and they were delighted to be returning the collection, he said. Court Theatre chief executive Barbara George said they were ‘‘thrilled’’ to be getting back what she described as ‘‘the wonderful array of costumes with such intrinsic value’’. The Arts Centre had been generous in helping, she said.
The items include original costumes from the start of The Court in the early 1970s. They also include historic pieces donated over the years, Victorian pieces, items that date from the 1920s, and costumes made by designer Pamela Maling.
The theatre’s acting costume manager, Deborah Moor, described them as ‘‘part of the fabric of what this theatre was founded on’’.
Ross Gumbley, the theatre’s artistic director, said the company had always created superb costumes and ‘‘to actually have those back is beyond exciting’’.
While some of the collection’s condition remains unknown, it is considered a valuable resource for costume makers. The theatre hopes to add some pieces to its current stock and return them to the stage.