The Spirit of the Bells as a Sweetshop in Dick Whittington thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

The Spirit of the Bells as a Sweetshop 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, intended to be 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 design was not used but incorporated giant sweets in its design, especially Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts, a type of sweet first produced in Sheffield in 1899 by Geo. Bassett & Co.Ltd.

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 2 parts.

  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
TitleThe Spirit of the Bells as a Sweetshop in<i> Dick Whittington</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink and watercolour on paper
Brief description
One of 2 sheets, a costume design and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a Sweetshop in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017.
Physical description
S.142:1-2019
One of 2 sheets, a costume design and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a Sweetshop in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Coloured design showing front view of the costume with a Liquorice Allsort hat, epaulettes and skirt, and a lollipop staff hung with two bells. Numbered '7'. Signed and dated by Hugh Durrant and inscribed by him: 'Mr. Julian Clary Sweetshop'

S.142:2-2019
One of 2 sheets, a costume design and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a Sweetshop in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Page of notes by Hugh Durrant relating to the fabric and construction of the costume
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.7cm
  • Width: 21.0cm
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, intended to be 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 design was not used but incorporated giant sweets in its design, especially Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts, a type of sweet first produced in Sheffield in 1899 by Geo. Bassett & Co.Ltd.

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.
Collection
Accession number
S.142:1 to 2-2019

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Record createdSeptember 11, 2018
Record URL
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