My Fair Lady: Norwich charity shop style

Actors from My Fair Lady in their costumes by professional designer Margaret Hinton. From left: Maid (Claire Eason), Freddy Eynsford-Hill (George Catchpole), Eliza Dolittle (Emily Kelly), and Mrs Higgins (Rebecca Harris)

She may not have had the budget of Cecil Beaton, but one professional costumier has worked wonders turning charity shop finds into a stunning wardrobe to rival the screen version of My Fair Lady.

The cast of the Norwich School's latest musical will be taking to the stage in style this week thanks to the nimble fingers of costumier Margaret Hinton.

With an impressive CV, including costume designing for the Royal Ballet, Royal Shakespeare Company, BBC drama (Blakes 7 and Dr Who), prop designing at the Royal Opera House and teaching at RADA, Mrs Hinton has had her work cut out for her in drawing together the 800 separate items needed from a range of sources.

Mrs Hinton, whose son went to the school and who lives in The Close, said: “It's been a huge team effort.

“We have hired the suits and morning suits but most of the items have been sourced from charity shops and we have put them together.

“Things like ball gowns aren't too much use in the school wardrobe to be used later on so we have been using skirts and tops that will be more useful again. You have to think economy.”

And while Cecil Beaton's striking black and white costumes are a memorable feature in the 1964 film starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn and won him an Adacemy Award, Mrs Hinton said she was glad the director wanted to steer clear of following a similar theme.

Professional costume designer Margaret Hinton with members of the My Fair Lady cast.

She said: “I did watch the film but thankfully the director didn't want black and white. I was very pleased because I wanted it to be very colourful to be very different.

“And you can't beat Beaton can you?”

My Fair Lady will also be the last musical to be presided over by musical director Colin Dowdeswell, who will be retiring as head of music at the end of this year.

In recent years Mr Dowdeswell has helped to establish a tradition of staging a musical every two years, and he said he was confident the school would continue after he had retired.

He said: “I have been blessed with a lovely team of people while working on productions.

“I feel very fortunate that we have managed to draw in so many strong team players and everybody has worked very hard - it's been a real team operation.”

He said that all the cast had worked very hard and he was sure the finished show would be very successful.

Francis McIvor, director of the musical, said: “Two school house pantomimes, five staff pantomimes and now two full school musicals - this has been a long collaboration, which I have every much enjoyed.

“In particular I would like to pay tribute to Colin's energy and enthusiasm, which has established a vibrant tradition of musical theatre in Norwich School that I hope will long survive his retirement.”

My Fair Lady will be taking place at the Norwich Playhouse from November 11 to 14.

The performances begin at 7.30pm with a matinee on the Saturday at 2.30pm.

Tickets are still available for Wednesday night and cost £8.50 or £6.50 for concessions and are available by calling the box office on 01603 598598 or online at www.norwichplayhouse.org.uk.