With fancy dress parties and themed events becoming ever more popular, KATE LIPTROT, right, visits York Theatre Royal’s costume hire department to check out some of the outfits on offer there

Concealed in the basement of York’s grand De Grey Rooms is one of the city’s hidden gems.

The cavernous rooms which now house the Theatre Royal’s costume hire department are a real treasure trove, with thousands of unique costumes crammed on to countless rails. Masks hang from cupboard handles, feather boas drape from rails, and gloves, wigs and hats overflow from storage boxes.

With more and more events setting themed dress codes – from stag parties to the popular nostalgia of the Pickering Wartime Weekend – the astonishing array of custom-made outfits available for hire in the De Grey Rooms will guarantee that no-one else is going to turn up in the same outfit.

In fact, there is so much choice it’s difficult to know where to start. If you’ve ever wondered what happens to Berwick Kaler’s legendary dame costumes after panto season, you will see them as you walk in – a garish wall of sequins, padding and flammable-looking material, including his incredible Lady Gaga costume and telephone wig from last year’s pantomime. On a neighbouring rail is a tutu worn by Barbara Windsor in the 1960s, alongside what seems to be every conceivable era of fashion from elaborate period costume, to glamorous 1920s flapper dresses, vintage coats and 1970s dresses.

Acting costume hire supervisor Rosemary Bentley said the ideas visitors have for costumes are varied. “We get requests for 1940s re-enactment costumes – particularly for Pickering and Goodwood – and there have been lots of people asking for Medieval and Victorian costumes.

“Berwick’s costumes are so popular that I have had a phone booking for a costume to be collected in December this year.”

Dozens of photographs stuck to the wall behind the desk show customers posing in all kinds of costumes from the historical to the comical. Staff from the Sarah Coggles store recently visited to look for military wear and as we look around, a couple come in to collect costumes for a party with a theme for guests to dress as something beginning with their initial. Rob Winship, of Acomb, said he planned to dress as Batman’s sidekick Robin in an all-in-one jumpsuit while his wife, Helen, had plumped to go as Coronation Street icon Hilda Ogden in a costume complete with pinny and hair rollers. It’s hard not to get into the spirit of dressing up and I soon find myself in Heartbeat mode with a 1960s shift dress. But it’s so much fun trying on the clothes that I reluctantly leave the changing room sad not to have time to try on a Jane Austen-style 1800s gown or a 1920s flapper costume. For those wanting something more outlandish, giant animal costumes are available, or for more dramatic costumes, perhaps for a play or pantomime, there are rails of clothes worn by David Leonard’s pantomime villains – devilishly sweeping and incredibly heavy cloaks, with giant shoes and masks.

Among the many treasures to be found in the Aladdin’s cave, which moved to the De Grey Rooms from Walmgate early last year, Rosemary points out her favourites – a perfectly-preserved naval officer’s hat complete with gold braid from the 1750s which is thought to have been donated to the theatre, and a pristine-looking top hat from 1933, “the proof that things that are clearly well made do last.”

The costume department is open on Tuesdays from 10am to 4pm, Thursdays (by appointment) from 10am to 2pm and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. Animal costumes cost £30 for new and £20 old, full period costume dresses are £25, and children’s full period outfits are £15. Email costumehire@yorktheatreroyal.co.uk or phone 01904 715444.