Not currently on display at the V&A

Just Scratchin' the Surface

Costume Design
ca. 1998 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Lez Brotherston is one of Britain's most interesting and prolific designers. He was born in Liverpool and trained at Central School of Art and Design, graduating in 1984. He worked extensively for Christopher Gable at Northern Ballet Theatre where he designed such works as Carmen, The Brontes and A Christmas Carol and has designed stage shows for French and Saunders and Victoria Wood. Lez is especially linked with Matthew Bourne's dance company New Adventures (formerly Adventures in Motion Pictures) for which he designed Highland Fling, Swan Lake, Edward Scissorhands, The Car Man and Cinderella. Lez Brotherston's costume designs for Just Scratchin' the Surface display his characteristic figures; often looking to the left, they strike a strong and distinct pose.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleJust Scratchin' the Surface (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil, ink, watercolour and crayon on art board
Brief description
Costume design by Lez Brotherston for a female 'bum' in Just Scratchin' the Surface, choreographed by Adam Cooper for Scottish Ballet, 1998
Physical description
The design depicts a full length female figure looking left, she is wearing green and brown combat style trousers, pumps, a T-Shirt and an American style bomber jacket. Her hair is styled in a pony tail. The design is signed by the artist. It is drawn on a page torn from a spiral bound sketch book.
Dimensions
  • Height: 35.3cm
  • Width: 45.4cm
Credit line
Given by the designer
Object history
This costume design by Lez Brotherston is part of an extensive collection of designs donated to the Theatre Museum by the artist in 2002. This design represents an addition to that collection and was donated by the artist in 2008. The design was executed for a production of Adam Cooper's dance piece Just Scratchin' the Surface performed by Scottish Ballet at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow in 1998.
Literary reference<i>Just Scratchin' the Surface</i>
Summary
Lez Brotherston is one of Britain's most interesting and prolific designers. He was born in Liverpool and trained at Central School of Art and Design, graduating in 1984. He worked extensively for Christopher Gable at Northern Ballet Theatre where he designed such works as Carmen, The Brontes and A Christmas Carol and has designed stage shows for French and Saunders and Victoria Wood. Lez is especially linked with Matthew Bourne's dance company New Adventures (formerly Adventures in Motion Pictures) for which he designed Highland Fling, Swan Lake, Edward Scissorhands, The Car Man and Cinderella. Lez Brotherston's costume designs for Just Scratchin' the Surface display his characteristic figures; often looking to the left, they strike a strong and distinct pose.
Collection
Accession number
S.117-2008

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Record createdMarch 31, 2009
Record URL
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