Not currently on display at the V&A

Costume Design

1972 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design for Nurse Bunty Biddle in Babes in the Wood, showing a full length female figure wearing a full length, high waisted, medieval style dress in olive green, the wide, full length sleeves trimmed with gold scroll patterns and bobbles at the cuffs, the hem decorated with a similar scroll pattern. Nurse Bunty wears an enormous medieval style pointed headdress in gold, from the top of which hangs a long gold veil which is draped round the headdress and the body before trailing to the ground. The background is painted in grey gouache. The design is signed and dated and on the reverse is inscribed with the name of the actor, the character and the pantomime.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink and gouache on paper
Brief description
Design by Cynthia Tingey for Nurse Bunty Biddle in Babes in the Wood, London Palladium, 1972
Physical description
Design for Nurse Bunty Biddle in Babes in the Wood, showing a full length female figure wearing a full length, high waisted, medieval style dress in olive green, the wide, full length sleeves trimmed with gold scroll patterns and bobbles at the cuffs, the hem decorated with a similar scroll pattern. Nurse Bunty wears an enormous medieval style pointed headdress in gold, from the top of which hangs a long gold veil which is draped round the headdress and the body before trailing to the ground. The background is painted in grey gouache. The design is signed and dated and on the reverse is inscribed with the name of the actor, the character and the pantomime.
Dimensions
  • Height: 377mm
  • Width: 270mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Cynthia Tingey -'72' (Signature; Upper left hand corner; Handwriting; Ink)
  • 'Julian Orchard - Nurse. B. in W.' (Textual information; Reverse; Handwriting; Ballpoint pen)
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, 19 December 1972. The production was directed by Albert J. Knight. Julian Orchard played Nurse Bunty Biddle.

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.51-1999

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Record createdApril 4, 2000
Record URL
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