About Centre Stage Costumes

We’re a costume hire shop based in the heart of Brunswick that specialises in makeup, special effects kits and everything in between. We believe that costumes aren’t just about looking great. They’re about trying something new and being someone different (for a night...or longer if it suits your fancy). We’ll go to great lengths to make sure your costume is perfect. Whether it’s whipping out the needle and thread for an on-the-spot alteration or scouring the store for the perfect accessory to make sure we get it right, no challenge is too big.

Community and family is at the heart of everything we do. Born and bred in Brunswick, we’re proud to be involved in the Sydney Road Business Association (we’re also proud to be located on the longest shopping strip in the Southern Hemisphere!). Nowhere else in Melbourne can match the quality and breadth of costumes we have at our disposal, or the amount of fun we have bringing them to life.

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Mary and Jimmy from Centrestage Costumes
Centrestage store images

Our Story

It all began with a newspaper article. Mary’s mother, an avid newspaper reader, came across an article about a Bendigo costume shop that was shutting down. The logical conclusion? Drive up to Bendigo and return with a truck full of costumes.

This all happened way back in 1980, from our first location on Rathdowne Street in Carlton. This is where we started our first business - a singing telegram service. It certainly explains our love of getting dressed up and pretending to be someone else for the day. And it’s how we first came to realise our passion for creativity and making people happy.

From singing telegrams, we naturally progressed into costumes. Many of our costumes were brought to life using an old 1965 Bernina sewing machine - the very same sewing machine Mary’s mother used. We still use it to this day.

In 2001, we moved to Brunswick, and we’ve been here ever since. Our collection of costumes has continued to grow as we make use of new techniques, jump on the latest trends and put our heart and soul into everything that we do. We’ve worked with theatre companies, dance groups, school productions and mardi gras. You name it, we’ve probably done it.

Our Story

It all began with a newspaper article. Mary’s mother, an avid newspaper reader, came across an article about a Bendigo costume shop that was shutting down. The logical conclusion? Drive up to Bendigo and return with a truck full of costumes.

This all happened way back in 1980, from our first location on Rathdowne Street in Carlton. This is where we started our first business - a singing telegram service. It certainly explains our love of getting dressed up and pretending to be someone else for the day. And it’s how we first came to realise our passion for creativity and making people happy.

From singing telegrams, we naturally progressed into costumes. Many of our costumes were brought to life using an old 1965 Bernina sewing machine - the very same sewing machine Mary’s mother used. We still use it to this day.

In 2001, we moved to Brunswick, and we’ve been here ever since. Our collection of costumes has continued to grow as we make use of new techniques, jump on the latest trends and put our heart and soul into everything that we do. We’ve worked with theatre companies, dance groups, school productions and mardi gras. You name it, we’ve probably done it.

Centrestage store images

Drama Department

With 35 years in the business, we’ve dressed everyone from your mardi gras merry-maker, to your festival funseeker to your drama school dramatists. We’re experts in what it takes to make a group of people look spot on. If you’re a school drama department that needs costumes or advice on styling a large group, look no further. From makeup to costumes to props, we’ll give you the full monty and have you entire cast looking the part. No project is too complex. In fact, we love a challenge!

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Wall of wigs