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The Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington

Costume Design
2017 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a set of designs and notes 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. Hugh Durrant reworked this design as the Spirit of the Bells as a London A-Z (S.143-2019), a design that was not used. 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. In this costume the Spirit of the Bells is seen dressed as a world chart, handy for Dick's voyage to Morocco. Although Hugh Durrant designed mermaids and the names of the seas, to be printed separately and appliquéd onto the base fabric of the costume at various places, only the cartouche was used since as Hugh Durrant recalled: 'The costume had become fussy enough without them!'

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 theatre 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 in Dick Whittingtonwere 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 5 parts.

  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
TitleThe Spirit of the Bells in <i>Dick Whittington</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Ink and watercolour and felt tip pen on paper
Brief description
5 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a world chart, on board ship in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017.
Physical description
S.136:1-2019
One of 5 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a world chart, on board ship in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Coloured design of the whole costume with compass headdress and wings, and sextant-topped staff. Numbered '20'. Signed and dated by Hugh Durrant and inscribed by him: 'Mr Julian Clary as a World Chart' 'Compass wings'

S.136:2-2019
One of 5 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a world chart, on board ship in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Coloured designs for the cartouche of 'The Known Worlde' and two for the seas, to be applied to the costume. Inscribed by Hugh Durrant with notes to the costumier for placing the appliqué signs on the costume

S.136:3-2019
One of 5 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a world chart, on board ship in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Coloured design for mermaids to be applied to the costume. Inscribed by Hugh Durrant with notes to the costumier for size, scale and placement of the appliqué mermaids

S.136:4-2019
One of 5 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a world chart, on board ship in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Diagram in black and coloured pens suggesting the construction of elements of the hanging sleeve. Sketches of 6 elements. Inscribed by Hugh Durrant with notes to the costumier

S.136:5-2019
One of 5 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a world chart, on board ship in <i>Dick Whittington</i>, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Design for the base fabric of the costume representing a section of an early globe, painted on card in watercolour, felt tip pen and metallic pen
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.7cm
  • Width: 21.0cm
All the sheets are paper measuring 29.7 x 21.0 with the exception of S.136:5-2019 which is on card measuring 29.7 x 42.2cms
Credit line
Given by the artist
Associations
Summary
This is a set of designs and notes 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. Hugh Durrant reworked this design as the Spirit of the Bells as a London A-Z (S.143-2019), a design that was not used. 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. In this costume the Spirit of the Bells is seen dressed as a world chart, handy for Dick's voyage to Morocco. Although Hugh Durrant designed mermaids and the names of the seas, to be printed separately and appliquéd onto the base fabric of the costume at various places, only the cartouche was used since as Hugh Durrant recalled: 'The costume had become fussy enough without them!'

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 theatre 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 in Dick Whittingtonwere 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 objects
Collection
Accession number
S.136:1 to 5-2019

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Record createdSeptember 11, 2018
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