TV is killing am-dram, says royal costumier forced to shut its doors

AMATEUR dramatics groups are struggling because people prefer to spend their Saturday nights watching television, the owner of a costume shop has claimed as the business closes after nearly 40 years.

Cotswold Costumes, situated close to Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, was a favourite of young royal figures including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Zara Tindall, who hired outfits for fancy dress parties. It was also where Prince Harry infamously hired a Nazi uniform in 2005 for a friend’s birthday celebration.

In recent years, the fancy dress side of the business, which opened in 1982, slowed as people ordered cheap costumes from China on the internet, and the bulk of rentals were to amateur dramatics groups and school productions.

Jim Robinson, who has run the shop for 12 years, said amateur theatre groups could no longer afford to hire costumes as their audiences dwindle.

“Drama groups have always struggled to get bums on seats,” he said. “Their big night should be Saturday, but now there always seems to be a big draw on TV – Britain’s Got Talent or Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.

“Our local theatre groups are still putting on productions but they have to watch their budgets, so increasingly they are making their own costumes.”

It is a similar story in schools, he added. “They used to hire a set of costumes for their productions. Now they’ll do Shakespeare in contemporary dress, which is all very arty but not good for business.”

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the shop in 2008, when the Duke “asked about a Zulu costume”, but there was none available, Mr Robinson said.

The store’s stock is up for sale and the rest will be auctioned next month.

‘Drama groups’ big night should be Saturday, but now there always seems to be a big draw on TV’