Not currently on display at the V&A

Puss in Boots

Costume Design
1949 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume design for Tommy Trinder as Miffins in Puss in Boots, London Palladium, 1949.

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.

Puss in Boots starred comedian Tommy Trinder as Miffins and American double act George and Bert Bernard as Dandelion and Buttercup. The show’s scenery was designed by Charles Reading, with costumes for the Cat Ballet designed by Erte.
The Times described the show as “very pretty” and “the most spectacular of the three big London pantomimes” that year. The production also featured a speciality act called Al Gordon’s Dogs.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePuss in Boots (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Gouache and watercolour on card, with handwritten annotation in pencil and pen and ink.
Brief description
Costume design for Tommy Trinder as Miffins in Puss in Boots, London Palladium, 1949
Physical description
Costume design for Tommy Trinder as Miffins in Puss in Boots, London Palladium, 1949. It shows a male figure wearing a white, full sleeved shirt with a wide collar, with a small white bow tie at the neck. He is also dressed in a pair of dull gold dungarees which finish slightly below the knee to expose a pair of striped grey socks. The figure stands with his hands outstretched, and his feet apart. The design is annotated in pen and ink, and pencil, with notes detailing proposed adjustments to the costume.
Dimensions
  • Height: 55.8cm
  • Width: 37.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Mr Tommy Trinder/"Puss in Boots"/Paladium' (Handwritten annotation in pen and ink, base, right hand side)
  • 'This is a Proper/flap Front life/a sailortrouser' (Handwritten annotation in pencil, top left hand side of the design)
  • 'Not so much Sle./Lace' (Handwritten annotation in pencil, surrounding the left hand sleece)
  • 'Lace/Tuck/Cloth Braces/to Match/Trousers' (Handwritten annotation in pencil, top right )
  • 'With End[?] Coat' (Handwritten annotation in pen and ink, right hand side of the design.)
  • 'NOT USED' (Handwritten at the top right side of the design.)
Credit line
Given by Roger Fox
Summary
Costume design for Tommy Trinder as Miffins in Puss in Boots, London Palladium, 1949.

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.

Puss in Boots starred comedian Tommy Trinder as Miffins and American double act George and Bert Bernard as Dandelion and Buttercup. The show’s scenery was designed by Charles Reading, with costumes for the Cat Ballet designed by Erte.
The Times described the show as “very pretty” and “the most spectacular of the three big London pantomimes” that year. The production also featured a speciality act called Al Gordon’s Dogs.
Collection
Accession number
S.57-2015

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 24, 2015
Record URL
Download as: JSON