Design by Cynthia Tingey for Sarah the Cook in Dick Whittington and His Cat, London Palladium, 1980

Design for Sarah the Cook in Dick Whittington and His Cat, showing a full length female figure wearing a red corset with white trims and white lacing over a red and white horizontal striped short sleeved top, blue and red horizontal striped bloomers, red stockings and blue lace up boots with red laces. She wears a gold necklace with an anchor shaped pendant. The design is signed and dated and inscribed on the reverse with the name of the actor.

Given by the artist

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 and His Cat, at the London Palladium, 22 December 1980. The production was directed by Lionel Blair. Sarah the Cook was played by Mollie Sugden, who was then enjoying great success as Mrs Slocombe in the television situation-comedy, Are You Being Served?

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 an example of a costume design for a pantomime dame and is unusual in being a design for a female dame. It also illustrates a feature of pantomime in the 20th century: the employment of television stars in leading roles.

S.96-1999