Not currently on display at the V&A

Costume Design

1969 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design for Captain Barnacle and Mate Arnold Bilge in Dick Whittington, showing two full length male figures, the shorter left hand figure wearing a sea green, sleeveless jerkin, buttoned at the front and belted with a black belt, over a long sleeved white shirt, the sleeves striped with horizontal self coloured stripes, and paned trunk hose in turquoise, thigh length brown sea boots, an orange cap decorated with a hanging bobble, and a white spotted pink neckerchief. The tall right hand figure wears a brown 'winged' jerkin buttoned at the front and belted with a wide brown belt, over a dark green doublet fastened at the front gold with lacing, the long sleeves loose to above the elbow and close fitting below, the cuffs decorated with gold naval insignia and a hand ruff and, at the neck, a small white ruff, with black and turquoise paned trunk hose, mauve tights and thigh length brown sea boots, a sword, and a gold hoop earring. The background is painted in bold horizontal strokes of dark grey-brown 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
Pen and ink and gouache on paper
Brief description
Design by Cynthia Tingey for Mate Arnold Bilge and Captain Barnacle in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 1969
Physical description
Design for Captain Barnacle and Mate Arnold Bilge in Dick Whittington, showing two full length male figures, the shorter left hand figure wearing a sea green, sleeveless jerkin, buttoned at the front and belted with a black belt, over a long sleeved white shirt, the sleeves striped with horizontal self coloured stripes, and paned trunk hose in turquoise, thigh length brown sea boots, an orange cap decorated with a hanging bobble, and a white spotted pink neckerchief. The tall right hand figure wears a brown 'winged' jerkin buttoned at the front and belted with a wide brown belt, over a dark green doublet fastened at the front gold with lacing, the long sleeves loose to above the elbow and close fitting below, the cuffs decorated with gold naval insignia and a hand ruff and, at the neck, a small white ruff, with black and turquoise paned trunk hose, mauve tights and thigh length brown sea boots, a sword, and a gold hoop earring. The background is painted in bold horizontal strokes of dark grey-brown gouache. The design is signed and dated and on the reverse is inscribed with the names of the actors and the pantomime.
Dimensions
  • Height: 375mm
  • Width: 272mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Cynthia Tingey - '69' (Signature; Lower left hand side; Handwriting; Ink)
  • 'Alan Curtis - Kenneth Connor. / D. W.' (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, Dick Whittington, at the London Palladium, 23 December 1969. The production was directed by Albert J. Knight. Kenneth Connor played Mate Arnold Bilge and Alan Curtis played Captain Barnacle.

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.
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceDick Whittington
Collection
Accession number
S.86-1999

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Record createdApril 17, 2000
Record URL
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