STAR costumes helped the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) raise £19,000 on eBay.
The RSC auctioned off 81 items to raise money for the company’s £3million Stitch In Time campaign for the restoration and redevelopment of its cramped and outdated costume workshop in Stratford.
All items, which ranged from stage worn costumes to screen print frames use din the costume workshop, sold with final bids ranging from £25 to more than £3,000.
A jacket worn by David Tennant when hosting Shakespeare Live From Stratford-upon-Avon, marking 400 years since Shakespeare’s death, received the highest bid of £3,204. A white tunic worn by the former Dr Who star when playing the lead in Richard II at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre made £3,101.
Other high earners included the doublet and hose worn by Judi Dench during Shakespeare Live, which made over £1,000; Alex Hasell’s red jacket from Henry V fetched more than £800; and Ian McKellen’s red coat from King Lear went for over £500.
Rebecca Preston, RSC development director, said: “We are delighted that the eBay costume auction raised £19,000 towards Stitch In Time, our fundraising campaign to support the restoration and redevelopment of our Costume Workshop.
“As well as creating much improved facilities for our costume making, the redevelopment will also restore the grade II listed building where the workshop is based, provide more space for apprentices and training, and allow visitors to experience our Costume Workshop for the first time, both online and as part of tours.”
“Thousands of people from around the world have already supported Stitch In Time, but we still have a long way to go.”
Visit rsc.org.uk/stitch-in-time for more information about, and to support, the Stitch In Time campaign.
