Inside a weird and wonderful costume geek's paradise
LONDON -- Sure, you could stick on sexy cat ears or a white sheet with eye holes and call it a day.
Or you could hire a magnificent period costume made by the finest designers in the theatre world.
Britain's National Theatre is one of the world's premiere theatre companies -- known for its period dramas, Shakespeare productions and contemporary plays. As such, they go through a lot of costumes -- which go on to live second lives in a rather magnificent warehouse space in south London.
SEE ALSO:10 'sexy' Halloween costumes that offend the animal kingdomAstoundingly, they're all available for anyone to hire for a week.
A spooky display greets visitors.Credit: liza hearon/mashableHolly Hobbs, deputy manager of the costume hire department, gave Mashablea closer look at the endless rails of wonderfully made costumes.
"The costumes are custom-made for the actors and they can go back 20 to 30 years," she said.
Every costume has sewn inside it the number of the production and the name of the actor who wore it.
"So there's the occasional B. Cumberbatch," Hobbs said.
A jacket from "Wind and the Willows."Credit: liza hearon/mashableThe inside of a skirt.Credit: liza hearon/mashableNo such Cumberbatch luck on this visit. But it's easy to lose track of time in this magical place, imagining what it would be like if you were just more creative.
For Halloween, people often already have their makeup in mind, and they want to be some sort of zombie. That means the period costumes are hot items.
Other popular trends are 18th century, voodoo and Day of the Dead. "Classic gothic looks are always popular, " Hobbs said.
Voodoo: Hot in 2016.Credit: Liza Hearon/mashableSadly the theatre isn't well kitted out for one big trend this year -- astronauts.
"We get lots of requests for astronauts," Hobbs said. Space fans, time to submit your scripts to the National Theatre!
At the warehouse, the racks are organised decade by decade, starting with Medieval -- perfect for your Game of Thronesreenactment club. They go through the 1990s ('90s prom, anyone?) and various other categories.
But our favourite "category" was the area for the costumes that just didn't belong anywhere else.
You'll certainly turn heads (and take up space) with these Tweedledum and Tweedledee costumes.Credit: liza hearon/mashableWhen it's cool to be square.Credit: liza hearon/mashableSadly, this guy was hired out already.Credit: liza hearon/mashableTo hire these costumes, just get in touch with the National Theatre's costume department and set up an appointment. You can either browse on your own and select a costume, or for an extra fee one of their experts can help you.
The hire prices are determined by item. A full outfit will cost about £80-£100 ($98-$123), plus VAT. You can also hire individual pieces, or just headgear. The minimum spend is £15.
As the costumes are custom-made for the actor, there's not much choice when it comes to size, unfortunately. For men the costumes can go up to about a 42/44 chest and for women about a size 12-14.
"Fake blood is our nemesis!"
There are fees if you do irreversible damage to the costume, but for superficial stuff, the wizards in the costume shop can probably fix it for a reasonable fee. Just be careful with the fake blood.
"Fake blood doesn't come out, no matter what the package says!" Hobbs said.
"Fake blood is our nemesis!"
Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?Credit: liza hearon/mashableBetter than a Snapchat filter.Credit: liza hearon/mashablePerhaps a Rorschach test of sorts.Credit: liza hearon/mashableWerk werk werk werk werk.Credit: liza hearon/mashableThe Costume Shop generally needs about a week to organise the hire and prepare the costume for you. So if you want to smash it at the Halloween party this year, get your order in by Oct. 24.
For inspiration we leave you with some more photos of this amazing place.
Gotta have those period-accurate foundation garments.Credit: Liza Hearon/MashableThink beyond the cat.Credit: liza hearon/mashableHope you weren't planning on fitting through any doorways.Credit: Liza Hearon/MashableLet's just face the facts -- these are seriously spooky.Credit: liza hearon/mashableBe the best Left Shark at the party....Credit: liza hearon/mashable... or whatever this is.Credit: liza hearon/mashableBoo!Credit: liza hearon/mashableGive 'em a ring! If you dare...Credit: liza hearon/mashableBONUS: D.I.Y. Stormtrooper costume
-
Best smart home deals this week at AmazonKorea's state pension fund to actively exercise its voting rightsKorea cites 'alliance spirit' in talks with US on Iran sanctionsSpeaker, floor leaders of rival parties meet over August session14 Heists, Robberies, and Other Great CapersUber messes up Facebook ad by confusing Puerto Rican and Cuban flagsS. Korea's nuke envoy meets British delegation over N. KoreaExperts advise caution over rush to declare end to Korean WarFirst officially approved Gen IV nuclear reactor in the US breaks groundPompeo, Kang to meet in New York on Friday to discuss N. Korea
- ·全国土壤普查办抽验组到广东开展土壤普查质量抽验
- ·Uber messes up Facebook ad by confusing Puerto Rican and Cuban flags
- ·N. Korea to hold conference of Korean War veterans
- ·Pence calls out N. Korea's religious persecution
- ·夏凤俭与四川建安工业有限责任公司董事长耿海波座谈
- ·诈骗医疗保险金206万余元 主犯被判13年
- ·Pompeo put 3 items on table in meeting with N. Koreans: lawmaker
- ·N. Korea summons ambassadors to Pyongyang: reports
- ·11 Telescopes Exploring The Magic of Space
- ·iOS 17 beta: How to get the developer beta for free
- ·Argentina coach hails 'positives' despite Messi absence in Germany draw
- ·5 times AI fooled the internet in 2023
- ·Trump trials: Jack Smith is reportedly reconsidering his strategy.
- ·N. Korea summons ambassadors to Pyongyang: reports
- ·Google Maps' Immersive View adds way more cities and landmarks
- ·学习交流芦山地震应急抢险、过渡安置和科学重建经验
- ·First officially approved Gen IV nuclear reactor in the US breaks ground
- ·扩散|把握机会,连州直播大赛寻找下一个直播明星!
- ·Moon gives eulogy to father of late prominent student activist
- ·Trump proclaims Korean War Veterans Armistice Day
- ·“笋货”上市采购旺!清远西牛麻竹笋迎秋季尝鲜热
- ·Google Maps' Immersive View adds way more cities and landmarks
- ·Vin Diesel named top
- ·从指“枭”为“跍”说起
- ·Apple iPod: The First 10 Years of the Ubiquitous Media Player
- ·眼耳鼻喉科省级继教项目培训在雅举行
- ·Washington Mystics vs. Chicago Sky 2024 livestream: Watch live WNBA
- ·Pakistan baseball captain requests equal respect, money as cricketers
- ·N. Korea to return remains of up to 55 Americans killed in Korean War: report
- ·Twitter's new CEO is here to put a 'LinkedIn' corporate
- ·18 Slightly Submerged Architectural Wonders
- ·我市首个社区矫正执法大队成立
- ·S. Korea, US lawmakers discuss N. Korea, trade
- ·石棉县第四届县直机关老年人运动会举行
- ·How to Backup Your Gmail Account
- ·S. Korean foreign minister vows to see NK denuclearization through