Costumes worn by David Tennant, Ian McKellen and Judi Dench are among items going up for auction on eBay.

RSC costumes up for auction

The RSC is auctioning 54 costumes worn by some of the theatre company’s most famous stars to raise funds for the Stitch In Time campaign, which will support the redevelopment of the Costume Workshop.

RSC costumes up for auction include black trousers worn by David Tennant in 2008’s Hamlet, Ian McKellen’s floor length coat worn during his turn as King Lear in 2007, and doublet and hose donned by Judi Dench in the 2016 production of Shakespeare Live, which was performed in Stratford-upon-Avon in the presence of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

When will the auction run?

The auction runs on eBay for 10 days, from 8pm on Tuesday April 17 until 8pm on Friday April 27 – timed to coincide with William Shakespeare’s birthday celebrations, this year held on Saturday April 21.

Some of the RSC’s other famous faces, including Patrick Stewart and Simon Callow, will also see their old costumes sold on eBay.

Measurements will be available on the auction site and each costume comes with a certificate of authenticity.

David Tennant in Richard II wearing a white tunic going up for auction. Photo by Kwame Lestrade

Estelle Kohler in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. One of the RSC costumes up for auction. Photo by Donald Cooper

Estelle Kohler’s black and silver headdress from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in 1999. Photo by Lucy Barriball

Ian McKellen’s red floor length coat from King Lear. Photo by Lucy Barriball

Ian McKellen’s red slippers from King Lear. Photo by Lucy Barriball

Anthony and Cleopatra. Photo by Helen Maybanks.

Judi Dench’s doublet and hose with ruff from Shakespeare Live From the RSC in 2016. Photo by Lucy Barriball

Patrick Stewart in Antony and Cleopatra in 2006. Photo by Pascal Molliere

Patrick Stewart’s beige suede shorts from Antony and Cleopatra in 2006. Photo by Lucy Barriball

It is hoped the auction will contribute a generous amount to the fund, which is currently £1.8million short of its £3million target.

David Tennant, RSC Board member, said: “I have had the pleasure of wearing many costumes at the RSC, created in their workshop in Stratford-upon-Avon. I always think of the very first costume I had when I went there, which was Touchstone in As You Like It. I had this extraordinary, calf-length coat in the jesters’ motley. It was beautifully put together, and the amount of work that had gone into it took my breath away. The attention to detail, the sheer craftsmanship that is engrained in each costume impressed me then and continues to impress me at the company today.”

For more information on the auction, visit rsc.org.uk/stitch-in-time-auction.

What do you think? Will you be bidding? Post your comment below.

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Information correct at date of publication