Not currently on display at the V&A

Costume Design

1965 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design for Big Hearted Martha in Babes in the Wood, showing two full length fair haired wide-eyed female figures painted in an impressionistic style, the left hand figure in a full length, long sleeved, apricot coloured nightdress with a white lace trim at the neck, a white lace and greyish-blue trim at the cuffs and hem, a long greyish-blue ribbon belt tied in a bow to the front and a white mob cap decorated with a similar ribbons. She holds a candle in her left hand. The right hand figure wears a similar mob cap and a white, high necked, long sleeved blouse with a blue ribbon trimmed bodice, and a tiered, calf length skirt, the upper tier in blue, the lower tiers in green, yellow, pink and purple. She wears blue boots. The background is painted in dark browny-grey gouache. The design is signed and dated.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gouache on paper
Brief description
Design by Cynthia Tingey for Big Hearted Martha in Babes in the Wood, London Palladium, 1965
Physical description
Design for Big Hearted Martha in Babes in the Wood, showing two full length fair haired wide-eyed female figures painted in an impressionistic style, the left hand figure in a full length, long sleeved, apricot coloured nightdress with a white lace trim at the neck, a white lace and greyish-blue trim at the cuffs and hem, a long greyish-blue ribbon belt tied in a bow to the front and a white mob cap decorated with a similar ribbons. She holds a candle in her left hand. The right hand figure wears a similar mob cap and a white, high necked, long sleeved blouse with a blue ribbon trimmed bodice, and a tiered, calf length skirt, the upper tier in blue, the lower tiers in green, yellow, pink and purple. She wears blue boots. The background is painted in dark browny-grey gouache. The design is signed and dated.
Dimensions
  • Height: 197mm
  • Width: 266mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
'Cynthia Tingey - '65' (Signature; Upper centre; Handwriting; Ink)
Credit line
Given by the artist
Object history
This is one of a collection of designs for pantomime and cabaret, given to the Theatre Museum by the designer, Cynthia Tingey, who created the costumes for 15 of the annual London Palladium pantomimes. This design was made for the pantomime, Babes in the Wood, at the London Palladium, 21 December 1965. The production was directed by Albert J. Knight. Arthur Askey played Big Hearted Martha.

Historical significance: An example of pantomime costume design of the second half of the 20th century and of the work of a designer who specialised in pantomime and variety design. It is also an example of a design for a pantomime dame.
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceBabes in the Wood
Collection
Accession number
S.12-1999

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Record createdMarch 31, 2000
Record URL
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