Who is behind the madness?
Hidden within the labyrinthine aisles of costumes at Thespis Theatrical Costumiers, you may just catch a glimpse of our tireless founder, Margaret Bicknell.
Often referred to as the “human sewing machine” (with far fewer breakdowns), Margaret is the creative force and driving energy behind Thespis — bringing an unwavering commitment to quality, detail and historical accuracy to every production.
Margaret graduated with a BA in History of Art from the University of East Anglia during the vibrant 1980s. While many were looking firmly towards the future, Margaret was captivated by the past — a fascination that continues to shape Thespis today.
Her early career included work in picture restoration, before financial realities led her into accountancy. She went on to enjoy a successful 30-year career as a Chartered Accountant, including a notable five-year period working with Peter Gabriel of Genesis fame.
Returning to Norfolk, Margaret reconnected with her creative roots through Norfolk Youth Music Theatre, initially volunteering as both chaperone and treasurer. It was here that her passion for costume truly took hold.
In 2008, she made the bold decision to leave accountancy behind and establish Thespis Theatrical Costumiers.
Her philosophy remains unchanged:
“It must be done properly.”
Margaret insists on delivering the highest quality costumes, refusing to cut corners — which is why Thespis remains one of the few companies to include authentic footwear as part of its costume packages.
Today, Thespis costumes appear on stages across the UK and Europe — from Iceland to Malta — and the journey is far from over.
While Thespis is driven creatively by Margaret, the technical and operational side of the business is led by her husband, Neil Bicknell.
Neil is Technical Director at Thespis and brings over 35 years’ experience as a commercial airline Captain with a major airline. With a background in electronics engineering, he combines precision, planning and problem-solving with a hands-on approach to production.
He oversees logistics, delivery operations and website systems, as well as the design and construction of many bespoke set pieces that help Thespis productions stand out on stage.
Together, Margaret and Neil combine creative excellence with operational discipline — delivering a professional, reliable service trusted by productions across the UK and Europe.
Our complete costume packages include everything required for a professional stage production — from garments to accessories such as hats, gloves, jewellery and footwear — often included within the overall hire.
With tens of thousands of costumes in stock, we are able to support productions of all sizes, including musicals, plays, Shakespeare and large-scale community theatre.
Please note: our costumes are professional-grade and designed for stage use — they are not suitable for standard fancy dress hire.
At Thespis, we specialise in full-show costume hire, designed to remove the stress from wardrobe management.
All costumes are prepared ready for stage use and labelled for individual performers, allowing your team to focus entirely on the production.
While we specialise in complete show packages, limited individual hires may be available, subject to a minimum hire charge of £250 + VAT.
“Complete shows. Completely simple.”
Thespis Theatrical Costumiers Ltd
Church Road, Thelveton
Norfolk, IP21 4EP
Registered in England & Wales No. 8532014
Telephone: 0333 666 0633
Email: hire@thespis.biz
Studio visits strictly by appointment only
Monday – Friday: 09:00 – 17:00
Studios closed for viewing: Saturday & Sunday
Emails and phones are monitored for clients with active productions.