Costume collection up for grabs

PERTH: Theatre sells off thousands of items

Amateur theatre groups from Scotland descended upon Perth Theatre’s costume department for a unique opportunity to secure a piece of stage history.

The opportunity to browse through and buy thousands of costumes from all eras and productions instantly grabbed the attention of directors and actors.

One of the first items to go was the wedding dress worn by Cinderella in Perth Theatre’s 2013 pantomime.

Like many of the items it had not seen the light of day for some time, but with a new owner, the gown will make an immediate return to the stage.

“Our Christmas pantomime will be Beauty and the Beast and the dress will be the start of Belle’s wedding dress,” said Laura Edison from Largs Players.

“We drove for two hours to be at the sale and it’s been fantastic.”

Perth Drama Club sent an eightstrong team to the sale to secure costumes for its upcoming productions.

George Hutchison, 67, was on the lookout for finery suitable for a panto dame for Mother Hubbard, which he has written and will direct.

He left with a costume once worn by dad’s Army favourite Ian Lavendar, who once graced the Perth Theatre stage as Widow Twankey in Aladdin.

The sale runs at the Perth Theatre Scenic Stores on the Inveralmond Industrial Estate until tomorrow, between 1pm and 6pm each day.

Pictures: Kris Miller. Avril Aitken and Jude Oldham look through some of the costumes, top, as eager customers browse the collection.