Not currently on display at the V&A

Costume Design

1965 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design for Nicholas and Big Hearted Martha in Babes in the Wood, showing two full length wide-eyed figures painted in an impressionistic style, to the left, a male figure in a striped doublet, the body of lime green and black vertical stripes, the sleeves of lime green and greyish-blue vertical stripes, green tights and a green Robin Hood hat with a large lime green feather. He holds the hand of a female figure who wears a calf length, full skirted, purple dress patterned all over with large yellowy-green flowers outlined in greyish-blue, the hem and cuffs trimmed with blue, orange and green stripes, a short shoulder cape of blue edged with black stripes, a green and blue bonnet tied with a similar bow at the neck, black ankle boots and yellow and blue striped stockings. The background is painted in dark browny-grey gouache. The design is signed and dated and on the reverse is inscribed with the names of the actors and the pantomime.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gouache on paper
Brief description
Design by Cynthia Tingey for Big Hearted Martha and Nicholas in Babes in the Wood, London Palladium, 1965
Physical description
Design for Nicholas and Big Hearted Martha in Babes in the Wood, showing two full length wide-eyed figures painted in an impressionistic style, to the left, a male figure in a striped doublet, the body of lime green and black vertical stripes, the sleeves of lime green and greyish-blue vertical stripes, green tights and a green Robin Hood hat with a large lime green feather. He holds the hand of a female figure who wears a calf length, full skirted, purple dress patterned all over with large yellowy-green flowers outlined in greyish-blue, the hem and cuffs trimmed with blue, orange and green stripes, a short shoulder cape of blue edged with black stripes, a green and blue bonnet tied with a similar bow at the neck, black ankle boots and yellow and blue striped stockings. The background is painted in dark browny-grey gouache. The design is signed and dated and on the reverse is inscribed with the names of the actors and the pantomime.
Dimensions
  • Height: 202mm
  • Width: 256mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Cynthia Tingey - '65' (Signature; Lower right hand corner; Handwriting; Ink)
  • 'Arthur Askey - Babes in the Wood / Roy Kinnear' (Textual information; Reverse; Handwriting; Pencil)
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 and Roy Kinnear played Nicholas.

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.38-1999

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Record createdMarch 31, 2000
Record URL
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