Dress Circle in York is putting it's Aladdin's cave of costumes up for auction

It is fair to say it is an Aladdin’s cave of costumes, with outfits and items used by actors and actresses in countless shows.
By Steve Teale
Published 30th Apr 2023, 05:00 BST

A company which has supplied outfits to countless theatrical productions across Yorkshire and beyond is calling it a day.

Dress Circle is auctioning some 14,000 costumes after closing its premises in Haxby, York. It used to supply to major theatres as well as fancy dress gear or items for murder mystery parties or other parties.

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Dress Circle was established in 2002 by Stephen and Jill Outhwaite in an empty barn on their farm in Haxby and was an immediate success. Over the next 20 years Dress Circle provided quality costumes and props for theatre companies and individuals across the UK and becoming a well-known name in the industry.

Eleanor Williams from Ryedale Auctioneers at the Dress Circle in York who will be auctioning its contents with over 14,000 costumes up for sale, photographed for The Yorkshire Post by Tony Johnson. The a pantomime costume hire business in Haxby owned by Stephen and Jill Outhwaite supplied costumes for local and national theatrical productions including Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, and Fiddler on the RoofEleanor Williams from Ryedale Auctioneers at the Dress Circle in York who will be auctioning its contents with over 14,000 costumes up for sale, photographed for The Yorkshire Post by Tony Johnson. The a pantomime costume hire business in Haxby owned by Stephen and Jill Outhwaite supplied costumes for local and national theatrical productions including Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, and Fiddler on the Roof
Eleanor Williams from Ryedale Auctioneers at the Dress Circle in York who will be auctioning its contents with over 14,000 costumes up for sale, photographed for The Yorkshire Post by Tony Johnson. The a pantomime costume hire business in Haxby owned by Stephen and Jill Outhwaite supplied costumes for local and national theatrical productions including Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, and Fiddler on the Roof

However at the start of this year the couple decided It was time to enjoy their retirement and made the decision to sell the contents of Dress Circle through Ryedale Auctioneers, a Kirkbymoorside business.

It is a firm which hosts a variety of auctions which means it can sell any type of item - from general antiques and collectables, to fine art, militaria and firearms.

Ryedale Auctioneers’ director Angus Ashworth said: “It’s a remarkable and extensive collection that rarely comes on the market and we hope to see interest from across the country”

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The timed auction includes vintage wedding dresses, full and part sets from a family of squirrel costumes to a full set of dresses for My Fair Lady other items include Aladdin, Spamalot costumes, more than 1,000 hats, former Opera North costumes, stage make-up, theatre props and much more.

The business supplied costumes for local and national theatrical productions including Les Miserables, The Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof.

The 14,000 costumes are housed in a barn but an online timed auction will be held by Ryedale Auctioneers from May 9 to 12.

Viewing will be held on May 7, May 9 and May 10 from 10am top 4pm at Dress Circle of York, Low Grange Farm, Haxby, York. Bidding is online only at www.ryedaleauctioneers.com.

Dress Circle said it wanted to “thank all of our valued customers for their support, laughs, friendliness, understanding, cakes and chocolate” over the years.

Related topics:YorkYorkshire