The Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington
Costume Design
2017 (designed)
2017 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a set of designs, notes and fabric swatches for one of the ten costumes designed by Hugh Durrant and worn by Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in the pantomime Dick Whittington at the London Palladium, 14 December 2017. As the star of the show, Julian Clary wore what Claire Allfree described in her Daily Telegraph review as: 'a parade of exquisitely outlandish outfits', each based on his role as the Spirit of the Bells but working as gloriously ebullient visual metaphors relating to London, or to the Spirit's exploits in the action. The sound of Bow bells was central to the traditional story of Richard Whittington, who turned back to London when he was on Highgate Hill and heard the bells telling him he would one day become Lord Mayor.
Dick Whittington was a lavishly designed production, the second pantomime mounted in the West End by Qdos after Cinderella, December 2016, which brought pantomime back to the Palladium with great success after a gap of thirty years. Dick Whittington was followed in December 2018 by Snow White, each featuring Julian Clary as an outlandish and extravagantly dressed character wearing Hugh Durrant's witty and inventive costumes. In Cinderella he played Dandini, and in Snow White, the Man in the Mirror.
Hugh Durrant is an award-winning London-based theatre designer whose costumes for Julian Clary and Elaine Paige Dick Whittington were nominated for best costume designs of 2017 in the Olivier Awards, April 2018. All other costumes in the production were designed by Ron Briggs, with sets by Ian Westbrook.
Dick Whittington was a lavishly designed production, the second pantomime mounted in the West End by Qdos after Cinderella, December 2016, which brought pantomime back to the Palladium with great success after a gap of thirty years. Dick Whittington was followed in December 2018 by Snow White, each featuring Julian Clary as an outlandish and extravagantly dressed character wearing Hugh Durrant's witty and inventive costumes. In Cinderella he played Dandini, and in Snow White, the Man in the Mirror.
Hugh Durrant is an award-winning London-based theatre designer whose costumes for Julian Clary and Elaine Paige Dick Whittington were nominated for best costume designs of 2017 in the Olivier Awards, April 2018. All other costumes in the production were designed by Ron Briggs, with sets by Ian Westbrook.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 13 parts.
|
| Title | The Spirit of the Bells in <i>Dick Whittington</i> (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Ink and watercolour, fabric and glitter on paper |
| Brief description | 13 sheets of designs, notes and fabric swatches relating to one of the costumes designed by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017 |
| Physical description | S.131:1-2019 One of 13 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Design for the opening silver and costume with two bells swinging in the belfry head dress, bells on the tunic, skirt, and staff. Signed and dated by Hugh Durrant and inscribed by him: 'Dick Whittington Mr Julian Clary Spirit of the Bells'. S.131:2-2019 One of 13 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Details of helmet for opening silver and pink costume, with side and front views of helmet and details of padded shapes on the helmet tail. S.131:3-2019 One of 13 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Details of helmet 'wings' and crown for opening silver and pink costume, with side view of helmet wings and front and side views of the crown. S.131:4-2013 One of 13 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Details of neckpiece, breastplate and skirt, with notes on crystals and padding for opening silver and pink costume, and several views of parts of the quilted and padded components of the costume, padding, and position of crystals. S.131:5-2019 One of 13 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Suggestions for fill-in ideas, crystals, ribbon bows for bells, and shoulder pieces for opening silver and pink costume, with views of position of crystals on different shapes, bells and shoulder pieces. S.131:6-2019 One of 13 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Details of wrist pieces and boots, numbered to relate to fabric swatches, for opening silver and pink costume. With views of wrist pieces, boots and quilted piece to add to front of boots. S.131:7-2013 One of 13 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Four swatches of white, pink and silver fabric, numbered and labelled by Hugh Durrant to relate to their use on the armour and wings. S.131:8-2019 One of 13 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Three numbered swatches of white and pink fabric, numbered and labelled by Hugh Durrant to identify their use on wings and wing details. S.131:9-2019 One of 13 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Two swatches of white sequinned net on a sheet titled by Hugh Durrant: 'Julian's Opening', with note from the costumier asking Hugh Durrant if this is the base fabric for top and trousers. S.131:10-2013 One of 13 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. First of four pages of notes from the photo shoot, numbered 1 in red ink, relating to the helmet, bells, ear pieces and wings, with views of details of helmet, bells and ear pieces. On sheet titled in red ink by Hugh Durrant: 'Mr Julian Clary. Notes from Photo-shoot'. S.131:11-2019 One of 13 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Second of four pages of notes from the photo shoot, numbered 2 in red ink, relating to the wings. Showing the side view of a wing with shading on the pink and blue areas, and a key to the fabric. S.131:12-2019 One of 13 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Third of four pages of notes from the photo shoot, numbered 3 in red ink, relating to the wings, collar and bells, with views of wings 'back pack', collar and bells. S.131:13-2019 One of 13 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Fourth of four pages of notes from the photo shoot, numbered 4 in red ink, relating to the skirt and boots, with a final 'Thank you!' to the costumier. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Gallery rotation, 2020. Label for S.105-2011 and S.131:1-2019.
COSTUME DESIGNS FOR DICK WHITTINGTON
1890 and 2017
Designed over a century apart, these costumes for Dick Whittington use bell motifs for the pantomimes’ fairies. The English legend suggests that the bells of St Mary-le-Bow Church in Lambeth, London, convinced Dick Whittington to return to the city and become Lord Mayor.
Designed by Wilhelm
Pen and ink and watercolour on paper
Acquired with the assistance of Brian Peters
Museum no. S.105-2011
Designed by Hugh Durrant
Pen and ink, watercolour and glitter on paper
Given by the artist
Museum no. S.131:1-2019(2020) |
| Credit line | Given by the artist |
| Associations | |
| Summary | This is a set of designs, notes and fabric swatches for one of the ten costumes designed by Hugh Durrant and worn by Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in the pantomime Dick Whittington at the London Palladium, 14 December 2017. As the star of the show, Julian Clary wore what Claire Allfree described in her Daily Telegraph review as: 'a parade of exquisitely outlandish outfits', each based on his role as the Spirit of the Bells but working as gloriously ebullient visual metaphors relating to London, or to the Spirit's exploits in the action. The sound of Bow bells was central to the traditional story of Richard Whittington, who turned back to London when he was on Highgate Hill and heard the bells telling him he would one day become Lord Mayor. Dick Whittington was a lavishly designed production, the second pantomime mounted in the West End by Qdos after Cinderella, December 2016, which brought pantomime back to the Palladium with great success after a gap of thirty years. Dick Whittington was followed in December 2018 by Snow White, each featuring Julian Clary as an outlandish and extravagantly dressed character wearing Hugh Durrant's witty and inventive costumes. In Cinderella he played Dandini, and in Snow White, the Man in the Mirror. Hugh Durrant is an award-winning London-based theatre designer whose costumes for Julian Clary and Elaine Paige Dick Whittington were nominated for best costume designs of 2017 in the Olivier Awards, April 2018. All other costumes in the production were designed by Ron Briggs, with sets by Ian Westbrook. |
| Associated object | S.141-2019 (Object) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.131:1 to 131:13-2019 |
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| Record created | September 11, 2018 |
| Record URL |
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