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 capering female figures painted in an impressionistic style, the left hand figure in a calf length, long sleeved, greyish-blue travelling dress with a buttoned bodice, the skirt trimmed with two purple stripes at the hem,and over the shoulders a short greyish-blue cape lined with pink. She wears a small brimmed hat of similar colour, black ankle boots and orange striped stockings and carries a handbag. The right hand figure wears a similar dress with a white pinafore and a white bonnet with a large white bow at the neck. 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 capering female figures painted in an impressionistic style, the left hand figure in a calf length, long sleeved, greyish-blue travelling dress with a buttoned bodice, the skirt trimmed with two purple stripes at the hem,and over the shoulders a short greyish-blue cape lined with pink. She wears a small brimmed hat of similar colour, black ankle boots and orange striped stockings and carries a handbag. The right hand figure wears a similar dress with a white pinafore and a white bonnet with a large white bow at the neck. The background is painted in dark browny-grey gouache. The design is signed and dated.
Dimensions
  • Height: 214mm
  • Width: 375mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
'Cynthia Tingey - '65' (Signature; Lower 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.14-1999

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Record createdMarch 31, 2000
Record URL
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