BARBARA Stovold, one of the founder members of the Chequer Mead costume store, says she and her fellow volunteers are braced for the busiest time of the year.
They opened the hire store four years ago after nine months of intensive work by a group of talented volunteers who sorted, washed and mended costumes donated by local drama groups and East Grinstead Operatic Society.
New costumes were made to add to the Fancy Dress collection, and eventually they managed to turn what at first looked like “an idiosyncratic jumble sale” into the highly organised Chequer Mead Fancy Dress and Stage Costume Hire facility.
“The past four years have seen us grow out of all recognition,” said Barbara.
“Initially our home was the portacabin to the rear of the theatre and half the under-stage area when the New Life Church moved to its new premises. But since those early days we have acquired a second portacabin, with much-appreciated help from Chequer Mead Friends, and the renovated end of the Studio which had been riddled with damp rot.
“We still have some reduced storage space under the stage, and we continue to receive donations of stage costumes and long forgotten items found in attics. We have to be very selective as space is at a premium but nothing goes to waste, being passed on to charity shops or cannibalised for trim, buttons, zips etc if we can’t find use for it as it is.”
The nine regular volunteers who man the costume store each contribute their particular expertise, said Barbara, and they would welcome further help from anyone who has an interest in costumes. An ability to sew is helpful, but not essential as washing, ironing mending is always on-going.
The Costume store is open to the public on Saturday mornings from 10am until 1pm when a four-strong team is on duty. But they can also open at other times by special arrangement, particularly for anyone wanting costumes for a show.
“In order to keep on top of running the store we introduced a ‘work day’ on every fourth Friday in the month about 2 years ago but thanks to increased demand we now meet to work every Friday morning, and then we stay for a ‘social’ lunch.
“We have provided costumes for local drama groups, pantos, community events, school end-of-term productions and of course many fancy dress outfits covering a wide range of aspirations and themes ranging from prehistory, through Oriental, Roman, Anglo Saxon, Medieval, Tudor, Regency, Victorian and Edwardian costumes right up to the 1980s.
“We have just celebrated our fourth birthday and so far we have contributed just over £20,000 to Chequer Mead Theatre. We are a very happy team and go forward into our fifth year with great enthusiasm.”
* Opening times: Saturdays 10am until 1pm
