Not currently on display at the V&A

Costume Design

1968 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design for Dame Durden in Jack and the Beanstalk, showing a full length female figure wearing a pale blue, long sleeved blouse, the full sleeves gathered to an elaborate cuff of mid-blue 'petal' shapes trimmed with orange, the high neck with a black choker and pendant jewel, a mid-calf length dark blue skirt with three bands of pale blue to the hem and, beneath, a pale blue scalloped petticoat edged with orange bobbles, and, over, a dusky pink pinafore with wide flounces at the shoulders, tied to the front with a large bow in at the waist, with white and orange horizontally striped tights and black ankle boots. She carries a rolling pin in her right hand and wears a pair of 1960s spectacles. The background is painted in grey-brown gouache. The design is signed and dated and on the reverse is inscribed with the name of the actor 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 Dame Durden in Jack and the Beanstalk, London Palladium, 1968
Physical description
Design for Dame Durden in Jack and the Beanstalk, showing a full length female figure wearing a pale blue, long sleeved blouse, the full sleeves gathered to an elaborate cuff of mid-blue 'petal' shapes trimmed with orange, the high neck with a black choker and pendant jewel, a mid-calf length dark blue skirt with three bands of pale blue to the hem and, beneath, a pale blue scalloped petticoat edged with orange bobbles, and, over, a dusky pink pinafore with wide flounces at the shoulders, tied to the front with a large bow in at the waist, with white and orange horizontally striped tights and black ankle boots. She carries a rolling pin in her right hand and wears a pair of 1960s spectacles. The background is painted in grey-brown gouache. The design is signed and dated and on the reverse is inscribed with the name of the actor and the pantomime.
Dimensions
  • Height: 272mm
  • Width: 202mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Cynthia Tingey - '68' (Signature; Lower right hand corner; Handwriting; Ink)
  • 'Arthur Askey - Jack Bean Stalk' (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, Jack and the Beanstalk, at the London Palladium, 17 December 1968. The production was directed by Albert J. Knight. Arthur Askey played Dame Durden.

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 referenceJack and the Beanstalk
Collection
Accession number
S.127-1999

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Record createdJuly 4, 2000
Record URL
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