Theatre company stages yard sale with a difference in Chester

Following the announcement last year that popular theatre company Tip Top Productions would be vacating The Forum Studio Theatre in 2021 after 14 very happy years there, theatre-goers are being offered the chance to snap up a unique souvenir of the array of plays staged there over the years.

Tip Top are to stage a one-off yard sale, with everything from costumes and wigs to props and furniture up for grabs. We Are Chester team member Paul Crofts brings us a preview of the unique opportunity to own a piece of Tip Top theatre history, plus news of the company’s first show of 2021.

You’re moving house but you can’t take everything with you, what do you do? Hire a skip, storage? Better still, why not give others the chance to own your once much-loved treasures by holding a yard sale. That’s exactly what Tip Top Productions are doing as they stage a very special yard sale at The Forum Studio Theatre in Chester from 11am-3pm on Sunday 23 May.

There’ll be everything from costumes and wigs to props and furniture available in return for a donation. The sale is being held as the company prepares to vacate the theatre which has been their home since 2007.

Theatre memorabilia

Speaking about this unique opportunity to take home a piece of theatre memorabilia from one of Tip Top’s numerous shows, committee member Phil Cross said: “With over 15 years’ worth of props, furniture and costumes which have been used in our productions during our time at the Forum Studio Theatre, we’ve got everything from attractive antiques to whimsical wigs and our Tip Top team of volunteers hope that you will find a little piece of theatrical history to take home with you for a small donation.

“It’s an exciting new chapter for Tip Top to be leaving the Forum Studio and we are expecting that the yard sale will be a trip down memory lane for all of our volunteers, performers and audience members over the past 14 years.

“The event is open for anyone and everyone, we will be operating a one-way system indoors and face masks will be compulsory.”

Meanwhile, Tip Top have announced that their first production of 2021 will take place at Theatr Clwyd as part of the welcome return of the Mold venue’s season of outdoor events. Tickets are now on sale for Tip Top’s Summer at The Musicals, which takes place at Theatr Clwyd’s open-air theatre on Sunday 15 August at 3pm and 7pm. 

Full details of Tip Top’s Yard Sale and Tip Top’s Summer at The Musicals can be found at www.chestertheatre.co.uk