Costume worn by Danny La Rue as Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly! thumbnail 1
Costume worn by Danny La Rue as Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly! thumbnail 2
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Not on display

This object consists of 12 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Costume worn by Danny La Rue as Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly!

Theatre Costume
1984 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown (makers)
Place of origin
London (made)

Theatre costume with matching accessories, worn by the female impersonator Danny La Rue (1927-2009) in the title role of Hello Dolly, produced at the Prince of Wales Theatre in 1984

Object details

Categories
Theatre
Entertainment & Leisure
Cross-Dressing
Musical Theatre
Object type
Theatre Costume
Parts
This object consists of 12 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Theatre Costume
  • Dress
  • Theatre Costume
  • Feather Boa
  • Theatre Costume
  • Headdress
  • Theatre Costume
  • Wig
  • Theatre Costume
  • Shoe
  • Theatre Costume
  • Shoe
  • Theatre Costume
  • Glove
  • Theatre Costume
  • Glove
  • Theatre Costume
  • Bag
  • Theatre Costume
  • Necklaces
  • Theatre Costume
  • Necklaces
  • Theatre Costume
  • Headdress
TitleCostume worn by Danny La Rue as Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly! (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Cotton with appliquéd decoration, leather, plastic.
Leather
Cotton (Textile)
Plastic
Metal
Stitching
Brief description
Theatre costume with matching accessories, worn by Danny La Rue (1927-2009) as Dolly Levi, the title role of Hello Dolly!, Prince of Wales Theatre, 3 January 1984
Physical description
Theatre costume with matching accessories, worn by Danny La Rue (1927-2009) as Dolly Levi, the title role of Hello Dolly, Prince of Wales Theatre, 3 January 1984
Gallery label
(2022)
Re:Imagining Musicals, 15 October 2022 - 4 February 2024

Danny La Rue as Dolly Levi
In Hello, Dolly!’s 1984 West End revival, female impersonator Danny La Rue made history as Dolly Levi. However, this was not his first female role in a musical. Twenty years earlier, La Rue had replaced Avis Bunnage in Oh What a Lovely War. Designer Tim Goodchild’s Hello Dolly! headpiece was later worn by La Rue when playing a pantomime Dame.

Costume design for Danny La Rue as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!, Prince of Wales Theatre
1984 (printed 2022)
Designed by Tim Goodchild
Ink on paper
Museum no. NCOL.391-2022

Headpiece and wig for Danny La Rue as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!, Prince of Wales Theatre
1984
Designed by Tim Goodchild
Feathers, cut-glass jewels, sequins and diamante on wire frame,
with wig of synthetic hair on net
Museum no. S.1616:3 and 4-2014
Literary referenceMother Goose
Summary
Theatre costume with matching accessories, worn by the female impersonator Danny La Rue (1927-2009) in the title role of Hello Dolly, produced at the Prince of Wales Theatre in 1984
Collection
Theatre and Performance Collection
Accession number
S.1616:1 to 12-2014

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Record createdJuly 28, 2014
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1297404/costume-worn-by-danny-la-theatre-costume-unknown/
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