Bristol costume maker retires after 50 years of sewing

Anne Holgate has been making costumes for theatre for almost 50 years

A volunteer costume-maker who has helped with theatre productions for almost 50 years has retired.

Anne Holgate has spent hours each week fixing outfits that cost thousands of pounds and creating new ones for next to nothing for countless shows.

"I think my record is about 15 dresses in a night," she said.

Bristol Musical Youth Productions said it is now on the hunt for volunteers to replace Ms Holgate and all the work she does.

Ms Holgate has won awards for her costume making

Ms Holgate said: "You get to learn what looks good from a distance with a bit of ruching here and a bit of a bow, ribbon, fur or feather, you can make it look amazing.

"I do get a bit fed up with the house looking like a jumble sale because there's bags and bags of costumes everywhere."

She said the very first show she worked on was a junior school production and she then went on to create pieces for Starlight Express productions and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society.

Bob said Ms Holgate is "so talented"

Bristol Musical Youth Productions actor Bob said he feels "so privileged" to wear her costumes.

"Every time we do a show I find such insane, elaborate, fluffy costumes waiting there," he said.

"She's so talented. If you need buttons sewed on, in five seconds it's done."

Ms Klein said she does not know what she will do without Ms Holgate

Bristol Musical Youth Productions director Vicki Klein said Ms Holgate has won lots of awards for the company for the best costumes.

"We're not talking about 10, in shows that we've done it would be something like 200," she said.

"She makes them all, she fits them all, she comes up with the creative ideas.

"She's just amazing. I don't know what we'll do without her."