Not currently on display at the V&A

The Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington

Costume Design
2017
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a photocopy of a drawing by Hugh Durrant of the ten costumes he designed that were 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. Three other designs by Hugh Durrant - for the Spirit of the Bells as a Sweetshop, as a London A-Z, and as an Explosion of Bells - were not used.

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
TitleThe Spirit of the Bells in <i>Dick Whittington</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Colour photocopy on paper
Brief description
Photocopy of a drawing by Hugh Durrant of the ten costumes designed by him that were worn by Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017
Physical description
Colour photocopy of a drawing by Hugh Durrant of the ten costumes designed by him and worn by Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. From centre bottom, left, clockwise, as the Spirit of the Bells in the opening scene; as a Pearly King; as a Half-timbered House (Liberty's); as the spirit of Highgate Hill; in the Dream Scene; as a World Chart; on board ship; under the sea; in Morocco, and in the Walkdown
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.7cm
  • Width: 21.0cm
Credit line
Given by the artist
Associations
Summary
This is a photocopy of a drawing by Hugh Durrant of the ten costumes he designed that were 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. Three other designs by Hugh Durrant - for the Spirit of the Bells as a Sweetshop, as a London A-Z, and as an Explosion of Bells - were not used.

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 objects
Collection
Accession number
S.141-2019

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdSeptember 11, 2018
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest