ENERGETIC RSC staff are preparing to swap treading the boards for pounding the pavements.
The ‘Running Wardrobe’ team are limbering up for this year’s Stratford Half Marathon.
They will be taking on the 13 mile run in April with the aim of raising £10,000 towards the ‘Stitch in Time’ campaign to redevelop the company’s costume workshop.
Executive director Catherine Mallyon said: “Costume making is central to everything we do at the RSC and is shared with audiences all year round on our stages, and through live broadcasts straight into cinemas and schools.
“Taking part in the Stratford Half Marathon to aid our Stitch In Time campaign is a chance to show how dedicated the whole RSC is to our costume workshop project.”
The restoration will allow the team more space to create the costumes – providing more training opportunities for students – and will see the department connected to the RSC’s offices in neighboring Chapel Street.
And a new main entrance on Waterside – originally leading to an 1887 scenery store for the former Shakespeare Memorial Theatre – will welcome visitors who will be offered guided tours.
Ms Mallyon added: “The new costume workshop will safeguard the future of costume making in Stratford, enable visitors to experience the heritage of our workshop for themselves for the first time and establish apprenticeships to train the next generation of costume makers. The project will transform our out-dated buildings revolutionising the working conditions and increasing employment opportunities.”
The fund-raiser is now closing in on its £3million target – thanks to support from around the world – with £250,000 left to raise.
Visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/stitchintime to donate to the project.
