Canberra Repertory Society council member Liz de Totth was backstage at Theatre 3 on Thursday looking at costumes that would feature in the society's retro sale on Friday and Saturday.
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"I wore that dress in Neighbourhood Watch!" she said, pointing to a black and white floral garment.
"It was purchased especially for me."
But with only limited storage space available, that dress along with hundreds of other purchased, made and donated items - including shoes, skirts, shirts, trousers and hats, some barely worn - will be on sale as part of Rep's 85th anniversary.
"There's some really gorgeous stuff there," de Totth said.
"Some people have the style and flair to carry off retro gear - I'm not one of them."
Among the clothes were brides' dresses and a set of red soldiers' jackets. De Totth said other theatre companies or people seeking clothes for fancy dress parties or themed weddings might be interested in seeing what was on offer.
As well as the sale, Rep will be having a morning tea on Friday and its 2018 season launch that evening. On Saturday will be an open day with tours of Theatre 3.
De Totth says the tours will appeal both to Rep newcomers and those who have seen shows there and are curious about the workings of the place, from front of house including the recently renovated foyer to backstage,. lighting, and sound.
She was coming to the building that is now Theatre 3 well before it became Rep's home in 1973.
"I was a student at Canberra High School in 1966 to 1969 - it was our school hall," she said.
"I was on stage for the very first time here in Patience."
Rep took the building as its third official home in 1973 - hence the name Theatre 3 - after beginning at the Albert Hall and from 1952, performing at the Riverside Theatre, with occasional forays elsewhere. De Totth performed at Rep for the first time in 1978 in the chorus of La Boheme and has been a part of the Canberra theatre scene - at Rep and elsewhere - ever since.
Canberra Repertory Society's 85th anniversary morning tea is on Friday, October 27 at 11am. The Retro Sale is on Friday and Saturday, 10am to 3pm. The 2018 season launch is on Friday at 6pm. The open day is on Saturday with free tours at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm. All events are at Theatre 3, 3 Repertory Lane, off Ellery Crescent, Acton.
