1 November 2013

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

WITH Christmas and New Year on the horizon the volunteers who run the Fancy Dress and Costume store at Chequer Mead are bracing themselves for their annual rush.

The Store was launched in October 2008 after nine months of intensive work by talented volunteers who sorted, washed, and mended costumes donated by local amateur dramatic groups including the Ace Theatre Company, East Grinstead Operatic Society and the Copthorne Players, with later costumes coming from the Village Players and Forest Players.

Since then new costumes have been created to add to the Fancy Dress collection and the Store continues to receive donations of 20th Century clothes and material found in various attics.

The portacabin at the rear of Chequer Mead houses some of the costumes on offer, the rest of which are stored in half the understage area.

The volunteers who work at the store are all capable seamstresses and have been associated with theatre costumes over many years – and all profits from hirings go back into supporting Chequer Mead.

There are two aspects to the hire facility, Fancy Dress for themed parties, and Stage Costumes for plays, musicals, community events, school performances and so on.

Costumes range from prehistory, through Roman, Oriental, Anglo Saxon and Medieval periods, to Tudor, Regency, Victorian, Edwardian and up to the 1980s.

Prices range from £5 to £20.

The store is open on Saturday mornings from 10am till 1pm, but special arrangements can be made for amateur dramatic societies and community groups.

* For more information call Sandie on 01342 325134 or Barbara on 01342 322944.