Cash-strapped arts group sells off all its props

Published on Friday 3 September 2010 17:08

IT's the perfect sale for anyone looking to buy a real street parade-sized Chinese Dragon - ideal for a New Year's party with a difference.

• SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Steve Wilson from The Big Red Door inspects the bizarre sale items. Picture: JAYNE EMSLEY

Or perhaps a shopper eager to pick up a set of gargoyles - the perfect ice-breaker at a party, especially one for medieval religious architecture experts.

These items and more are among the bohemian collection of Scotland's weirdest props and costume department, being sold off as a result of hippy arts outfit te Pooka taking to the road.

The group has dazzled crowds at major events, including the opening of the Scottish Parliament and the Harry Potter book launch at Edinburgh Castle.

But its fire-eating, flying-trapeze, anything-goes act is now leaving the city - creating the perfect opportunity for wannabe circus performers to pick up that swallowing sword they've always wanted.

The sale, being held today and tomorrow at city's The Big Red Door venue in West Port, features both weird and wonderful creations that the company has used to ply its trade for more than a decade.

Director Kenn Musso said the group had been forced to vacate its base after losing many of its regular corporate hospitality events.

However, he says the company, which at its height had a 50-strong troupe of acrobats, fire jugglers and actors, is returning to the road.

He said: "The recession has hit us hard and the changes in licensing laws made it difficult for us to make money on the bar.

"We had a very successful business in corporate hospitality, especially at Christmas, and we've done some great shows over the years, but all of that has gone with the recession.

"It is the an end of an era for us and we will be sad to leave this place behind, but we'll be returning to the road where we began.

"When we go on the road, we will be doing shows and talks and showing people how to live sustainably, and encouraging them to support local shops over big business.

"We've built this place up from scratch and it's become somewhere that people could escape to. We have people that work in conventional office culture that do come here to leave all that behind them.

"Along the way we have built up an incredible collection of props, including a Chinese dragon costume. We've even got a cannon from somewhere.

"We also have a lot of lighting and music equipment and it all has to go.

"We're hoping to have a good sale, and there's certainly no shortage of unique items here."

The sale at The Big Red Door in Lady Lawson Street will run from 11am-6pm.