Mull Theatre gives new lease of life to historic coat
Mull Theatre’s Lee Hendrick has written to The Oban Times revealing a chance discovery that has given new life to a historic garment.
Lee wrote: ‘I have just finished costuming the Mull Theatre’s Electrifying Mr Johnston by Robert Dawson Scott.
‘The play is set in the 1940s. I arranged with Shirley Robinson, the wardrobe mistress at the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh, to search their costume store.
‘I came across a coat with a note attached saying it had been donated by Caroline Daniels. The note said it had belonged to Lorna MacEchern, the secretary to the Duke of Buccleuch. She bought the coat in a shop in Campbeltown and wore it for 50 years. It was perfect for the production.
‘On the opening night of the play at Mull Theatre on Friday February 8, in the after show discussion, I was invited by the director to tell the story of the coat.
‘Before the show started, I had emailed the address written on the original note to say that the coat was being worn by actor Beth Marshall in the scene where she portrays Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. I was thrilled later that evening to discover that I had a reply. The coat had belonged to Caroline’s great-aunt Lorna. Caroline was moved by my email and said it was like getting a reply from a message in a bottle.
‘I sent Caroline a photo taken by Sarah Darling of Beth Marshall wearing the coat with actor Stephen Clyde playing Tom Johnston.’
The show is touring until March 9. Go to http://www.comar.co.uk for remaining tour dates.