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Babes in the Wood

Set Design
1950 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In 1947, Val Parnell took over the management of the London Palladium, one of the largest theatres in Britain. Under Parnell, the Palladium presented large-scale spectacular pantomimes until 1987 and became known as the Home of Pantomime due to its lavish productions featuring the biggest celebrity names of the time.

Babes in the Wood starred actor Sonnie Hale as Nurse Glucose and stage and screen actress and singer Adele Dixon as Robin Hood. The production was described by The Times as “up to date [...] with scenery and songs adapted to current standards of taste.” The show’s scenery and costumes were designed by Alec Shanks and Erté, who had previously designed the cat ballet costumes for 1949’s Puss in Boots at the venue.

The show also featured Kirby’s flying ballet and a ‘corps de ballet’ of 33 dancers.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 11 parts.

  • Designs
  • Designs
  • Designs
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TitleBabes in the Wood (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Gouache and watercolour and pencil on card
Brief description
Set model piece for 'The Village' in pantomime Babes in the Wood, London Palladium, 1950
Physical description
Set model piece for 'The Village' in pantomime Babes in the Wood, London Palladium, 1950
Marks and inscriptions
Transliteration
Credit line
Given by Roger Fox
Summary
In 1947, Val Parnell took over the management of the London Palladium, one of the largest theatres in Britain. Under Parnell, the Palladium presented large-scale spectacular pantomimes until 1987 and became known as the Home of Pantomime due to its lavish productions featuring the biggest celebrity names of the time.

Babes in the Wood starred actor Sonnie Hale as Nurse Glucose and stage and screen actress and singer Adele Dixon as Robin Hood. The production was described by The Times as “up to date [...] with scenery and songs adapted to current standards of taste.” The show’s scenery and costumes were designed by Alec Shanks and Erté, who had previously designed the cat ballet costumes for 1949’s Puss in Boots at the venue.

The show also featured Kirby’s flying ballet and a ‘corps de ballet’ of 33 dancers.
Collection
Accession number
S.2289:1 to 11-2014

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Record createdNovember 13, 2014
Record URL
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