The Lace Market Theatre is proud of its reputation for high quality costuming, and we’re very fortunate that the Board sees a dedicated theatre wardrobe as an essential part of the Lace Market Theatre operation.

For the last seventeen years the theatre’s costume department has been in Stoney Street, 'just round the corner' from Halifax Place. In this time stock levels have increased and, as our many visitors will know, things are now packed in so tightly that actually locating and retrieving what you’re looking for is becoming a major task in itself. In addition the accommodation at Stoney Street is developing problems. There have been significant leaks from the roof and water dripping on to costumes is very bad news indeed. It’s also bitterly cold in the winter and the antiquated heating is not only very inefficient but hugely expensive to run. The landlord has made it clear there is no money available to bring the building’s energy systems up to date.

We have been actively looking for alternative premises for about eight years, and as Stoney Street has become less user-friendly we have stepped the search up. It hasn’t been easy because our requirements are so specific – approximately 150 square metres of flexible storage space, dry, warm, and with as little natural light as possible. (Sunlight fading the colour of textiles is also very bad news indeed.) And whilst the Board gives generous support to the Wardrobe, its purse is not bottomless. As we all know, property prices, including commercial rents, have soared in recent years. Currently the theatre pays £13,500 per annum for rent, rates and utilities at Stoney Street, and this is well below the current market rate for the city centre. We have had to accept that we will not find suitable and affordable new accommodation 'just round the corner'. But, to cut a very long story short, we have at long last located and secured premises we think will work for us. Our lovely new wardrobe building is on Radford Boulevard – see photo.

We are lucky enough to have a long lead time before we have to move, so the next few months will be spent planning the move whilst giving priority to our upcoming productions. At the same time we will also have to consider the new location, and how to factor this into the way we costume our plays. I think all the people who currently work in the wardrobe are viewing the move with a mixture of excitement – great new premises – and apprehension – getting everything moved and set up in the first place. We will be getting a professional company to do the main removal, but there’s an enormous amount to do in Stoney Street before we even get that far!

So watch this space for regular updates on The Big Wardrobe Move.