The primary LGBTQIA+ organisation in Warwickshire runs a number of services and social events for LGBTQIA+ people across the county. Their mission is to ensure that all people feel valued and included in society, regardless of sexuality or gender identity. 

The group chose four items including Ian McKellen's costume as King Lear in King Lear (2007) and Charlie Josephine's costume as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet (2018).

Ian McKellen played King Lear as a kind father, a violent master and vulnerable old man who descends into madness – infamously shedding his clothing in the process. Warwickshire Pride chose his ornate scarlet military costume for display, and explained, ‘we were keen to highlight an older queer identifying actor in our selections’.

Warwickshire Pride group chose Mercutio's costume because for them: ‘Charlie Josephine’s story is one of pride, belonging, coming out, and the immense courage and energy that drives that journey.’ Josephine returned to the company in 2023 to write and direct Cowbois.

The Fred Winter Centre is a one-stop community hub supporting local people in Stratford-upon-Avon, with a focus on providing housing plus a range of services which address homelessness and hardship. The Centre is named after a Stratford businessman whose department store once occupied the building. 

One of their choices was Alex Kingston's costume from The Tempest (2023) because it told a hundred stories of the character’s life: battling storms, sleeping rough, finding resilience and strength despite a tough journey. The group enjoyed the detail of the shells as a reminder of ‘treasures collected along the way’, and the contrast of this outfit with more showy or theatrical costumes.

The ILEAP Charity is for children, young people and adults with additional needs and operates in South Warwickshire, although anyone is welcome to join. ILEAP delivers a user-led programme of leisure activities within the local community so vulnerable people can access leisure provision in a safe and supported way.  

Young people in the group chose four costumes including Tinkerbell from Wendy and Peter Pan (2015). They described Tink as fun, playful and relatable. Several theatre-loving people in the group had seen her in the production. The costume colours – gold, purple and pink – were among the group’s favourite, and one person even has similar boots to Tink’s tall lace-up pair.  

While the story of Peter Pan has been performed at the RSC before, this is the first Tinkerbell costume to join the collection.