Last September we launched the Stitch In Time Campaign
to support the restoration and redevelopment of our Costume Workshop
and help us continue to create stunning costumes
for you and audiences around the world to enjoy.
The Costume team are now settled in their temporary workshop
and busy making costumes for all the RSC productions as usual.
Relocating to the temporary workshop took place in May 2018.
It was a mammoth task to move the team of 30 staff.
So when we started planning
how we’d move the costume workshops
from its base on Waterside
up to our temporary space here in Arden Street,
we had many things to consider.
Obviously the size of the workrooms that we had,
that we were working in and how we’d fit them into the spaces here.
What we were able to do
was lay down a template of what the new workrooms sizes would be,
we found that they fitted almost exactly into the rehearsal rooms here,
so we could build little temporary walls
and everyone could get used to the spaces
they would eventually move back into once the new building was completed.
Although the temporary workrooms are a change from the ad-hoc layout
and heritage buildings on Waterside, they are a 20-minute walk to the theatre.
It’s a real challenge
in that we used to be able to get that phone call saying,
‘oh could you just nip across the road
and have a look at so and so doing blah de blah.
But now it’s, ‘yeah we’ll be down there in 25 minutes’,
rather than just nipping across the road.
And also transporting stuff can be a bit of a challenge,
especially if we’re transporting anything weapon related, you know,
you have to jump in the car and drive it down there
you can’t obviously walk it through town.
The redevelopment of the Costume Workshop
will create the best facilities for costume-making,
in a working environment fit for the 21st century.
Thank you to the thousands of people from across the world
who have already donated to the Stitch In Time Campaign.
Every gift makes a difference
and is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.