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The Sprit of the Bells in Dick Whittington

Costume Design
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. This lavishly feathered and richly coloured costume was worn by the Sprit when Dick reached Morocco after the shipwreck.

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 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 10 parts.

  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
TitleThe Sprit of the Bells in <i>Dick Whittington</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Ink and watercolour, gold pen and fabric
Brief description
10 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 the Morocco scene in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017
Physical description
S.139:1-2019
One of 10 sheets of fabric swatches, designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Morocco in <i>Dick Whittington</i>, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Coloured design of the whole costume with plumed bell-topped staff. Numbered '6'. Signed and dated by Hugh Durrant and inscribed: 'Mr. Julian Clary Morocco Scene' 'Dick Whittington' '(Revised)'

S.139:2-2019
One of 10 sheets of fabric swatches, designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Morocco in <i>Dick Whittington</i>, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Uncoloured design for the back and front of the collar of his costume. Inscribed by Hugh Durrant with instructions to costumiers on the fabric, appliqué peacock's eyes and crystals

S.139:3-2019
One of 10 sheets of fabric swatches, designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Morocco in <i>Dick Whittington</i>, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Coloured design for the motif for the outer sleeves of his costume. Inscribed by Hugh Durrant for the costumiers

S.139:4-2019
One of 10 sheets of fabric swatches, designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Morocco in <i>Dick Whittington</i>, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Coloured design for the motif for the front peplum of his costume. Inscribed and labelled by Hugh Durrant for the costumiers, suggesting same idea for giant brooch on turban, in different colours

S.139:5-2019
One of 10 sheets of fabric swatches, designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Morocco in <i>Dick Whittington</i>, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Coloured design for the motif for the collar of his costume. Inscribed and labelled by Hugh Durrant for the costumiers showing position of pearls

S.139:6-2019
One of 10 sheets of fabric swatches, designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Morocco in <i>Dick Whittington</i>, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Coloured design for the belt buckle of his costume. Inscribed and labelled by Hugh Durrant for the costumiers showing position of pearls

S.139:7-2019
One of 10 sheets of fabric swatches, designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Morocco in <i>Dick Whittington</i>, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Six samples of fabric in predominantly magenta tones stapled on two sheets, the reverse with black ink sketches of bells and bell costumes. Samples numbered and labelled by Hugh Durrant for the costumiers

S.139:8-2019
One of 10 sheets of fabric swatches, designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Morocco in <i>Dick Whittington</i>, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Three samples of fabric in turquoise and purple tones. Samples numbered and labelled by Hugh Durrant for the costumiers, and the sheet inscribed: 'Mr. Julian Clary Morocco'

S.139:9-2019
One of 10 sheets of fabric swatches, designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Morocco in <i>Dick Whittington</i>, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. One sample of gold fabric and three of beaded trim. Samples numbered and labelled by Hugh Durrant for the costumiers

S.139:10-2019
One of 10 sheets of fabric swatches, designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Morocco in <i>Dick Whittington</i>, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Three pantone pink and purple colour samples attached to a sheet of notes mainly about the ostrich boa trim on his costumes
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.7cm
  • Width: 21.0cm
All sheets are these dimensions with the exception of S.139:1-2019 which measures 33cm high by 21cms wide
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. This lavishly feathered and richly coloured costume was worn by the Sprit when Dick reached Morocco after the shipwreck.

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 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.139:1 to 10-2019

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Record createdSeptember 11, 2018
Record URL
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