Not currently on display at the V&A

Costume design for Berwick Kaler as Betty Turpin in Dick Turpin

Costume Design
2008 (Made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Berwick Kaler played the Dame in all the hugely popular pantomimes that he wrote for the York Theatre Royal, wearing a series of increasingly inventive and witty costumes. Many of them celebrated or referred to local and topical events. This dress, designed by Charles Cusick Smith for Kaler's character Betty Turpin in Dick Turpin, his 30th pantomime at the theatre produced in 2008, was inspired by the stage curtains of the Theatre Royal and features a White Rose of York on its skirt.

Berwick Kaler never wore make-up for his Dames, who he always wanted to be patently a man in a frock. To this end he also wore the brown workman's boots that can be seen in this design, which were given to the museum in 2019.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCostume design for Berwick Kaler as Betty Turpin in <i>Dick Turpin</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour and pen on card with attached fabric swatches
Brief description
Costume design by Charles Cusick Smith for Berwick Kaler as Betty Turpin in Dick Turpin at the York Theatre Royal, December 2008
Physical description
Costume design by Charles Cusick Smith for Berwick Kaler as Betty Turpin in Dick Turpin. Full length figure of a Pantomime Dame, wearing a red and gold dress decorated with gold fringes and tassels, the fringed skirt resembling stage curtains, with a heraldic White Rose of York on the upper, gold, part of the skirt. She has heavy boots. With three attached fabric swatch, upper right.
Dimensions
  • Height: 42cm
  • Width: 30cm
Credit line
Given by the artist
Summary
Berwick Kaler played the Dame in all the hugely popular pantomimes that he wrote for the York Theatre Royal, wearing a series of increasingly inventive and witty costumes. Many of them celebrated or referred to local and topical events. This dress, designed by Charles Cusick Smith for Kaler's character Betty Turpin in Dick Turpin, his 30th pantomime at the theatre produced in 2008, was inspired by the stage curtains of the Theatre Royal and features a White Rose of York on its skirt.

Berwick Kaler never wore make-up for his Dames, who he always wanted to be patently a man in a frock. To this end he also wore the brown workman's boots that can be seen in this design, which were given to the museum in 2019.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
S.998-2017

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Record createdNovember 22, 2016
Record URL
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