A PERFORMING arts centre is appealing for somewhere to store its thousands of costumes.

Angela Kirkham, director of Kirkham Henry Performing Arts in Horsemarket Road, Malton, said they had been struggling for space for the outfits for some time now and were now at bursting point.

“We have costumes stored in every nook and cranny all over Kirkham Henry, in a garage below our office, in a room above studio one, above the corridor, we have also got costumes stored in one of the parents’ garage,” she said.

“Plus, equally importantly, we’ve been given the chance of hundreds of amazing costumes that are not now used from production shows which have taken place on cruise ships.”

Angela said her sister, Ali Kirkham, who runs a production company, has offered to donate thousands of pounds worth of costumes to Ryedale Youth Theatre (RYT) that she does not use anymore, however there is no space to store them.

“We are looking for 1,500 square foot, if not certainly 1,000,” she said.

“We have had offers from time to time, but the cost of renting the space was beyond our financial capabilities. As RYT is a charity and Kirkham Henry is a not-for-profit community interest company, we are hoping to find either space for free, or at a nominal rent.”

Angela added: “We are also looking out for a sponsor who can help us out with this situation.

“Our wardrobe mistress Yvonne Young makes the most amazing costumes and with Beauty and the Beast this year’s show being no exception.

“Each show features 70 children with more than one costume, which means each year we have a massive worry as to where they will get stored.

“We’re hoping someone out there will have an out building preferably in the Malton area that can help us out.”

Angela said they’d had an offer for a farm building but it was too far for when they needed to get a set of costumes for other shows such as the pantomime.

“With 25 years of RYT costumes and over 40 years of Kirkham Henry costumes I think it is easy to imagine our dilemma.”

Anyone who could help should phone 01653 693310 or email info@kirkhamhenry.co.uk