Get thee to the Bayview Cash Store before Nov. 9 is nigh.

Costumes that have been worn in past Island Shakespeare Festival productions are currently on display in the building’s Hub Gallery. The eclectic garments span 12 years of outdoor theater in South Whidbey.

“There’s so many to choose from, but these are the ones that immediately evoke a memory. If you saw that show, you’ll have a visceral response to being reminded of it with the costume,” said Olena Hodges, artistic director for Island Shakespeare Festival. “And because they’re on stage, so often folks don’t get to see them really up close and see the texture and the craftsmanship.”

Over the years, a handful of costume designers have collaborated with show directors to craft the perfect look for actors. One of the designers includes Freeland resident Valerie Johnson, who has created outfits for “Sense and Sensibility” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

“We thrift a lot,” Johnson said. “That’s where I always start, really, because we’ve got a budget to work within.”

Costumes are often reused or altered in some way for another show. Her favorite creation on display is a flowy purple dress adorned with a belt of coins, a subtle nod to her bygone days of designing belly-dancing clothes for her hobby.

As Hodges pointed out, clothes used in Island Shakespeare Festival productions require additional consideration. Layers are a must on an outdoor stage.

“Trying to suggest the time period or the idea of the world of the play is the most important part and from there, can the actors move in it? Can they be outdoors? Can the materials sustain the elements?” she said.

Johnson said she has made the mistake of trying to use antique pieces in shows, which have trouble holding up. Also, fabric rots.

In addition to the costumes, there is also a table full of prop food from the bakery scene in “Cyrano de Bergerac.”

The exhibit runs from now until Nov. 9. An open house with representatives from Island Shakespeare Festival will take place 2-4 p.m. on Nov. 6.

An upcoming annual fundraiser that runs 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 28 at Freeland Hall will celebrate the reveal of the theater company’s 2023 season.

Photos by David Welton Costume designer Valerie Johnson, left, and Island Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director Olena Hodges stand before a display of costumes worn in the theater company’s productions.

Costumes worn in Island Shakespeare Festival productions are often reused or altered for other shows.

Plenty of feathers were used in the costumes for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”