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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, 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 was the costume worn by the Spirit of the Bells in the so-called Walkdown, the final scene of a pantomime in which all the characters take their bows in their finest costumes.

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 4 parts.

  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
TitleThe Spirit of the Bells in <i>Dick Whittington</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Brief description
4 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 Walkdown in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017
Physical description
S.140:1-2019
One of four sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in the Walkdown in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Colour design showing the front view of the whole costume. Signed and dated by Hugh Durrant and inscribed: 'Mr. Julian Clary' 'Walkdown'

S.140:2-2019
One of four sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in the Walkdown in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Photocopy of the uncoloured line drawing of the design showing the front view of the whole costume. The original signed and dated by Hugh Durrant and inscribed: 'Mr. Julian Clary' 'Walkdown'

S.140:3-2019
One of four sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in the Walkdown in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Sheet of notes and three diagrams for the costumier relating to the fabric and wings, titled: 'Mr. Julian Clary: Walkdown' The fabric for the tunic and trousers are specified by Hugh as Borovick's (Borovick Fabric) 7415

S.140:4-2019
One of four sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with fabric swatches, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in the Walkdown in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Sheet of lamé and sequin fabric swatches, with one of crystal-appliqué braid. Sheet entitled: 'Julian: Walkdown'
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.7cm
  • Width: 21.0cm
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 was the costume worn by the Spirit of the Bells in the so-called Walkdown, the final scene of a pantomime in which all the characters take their bows in their finest costumes.

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.140:1 to 4-2019

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Record createdSeptember 11, 2018
Record URL
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