Not currently on display at the V&A

Costume Design

1963 (Painted, Drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume design for Heather Harper as Lucy. The design depicts a full length female figure wearing 18th century style costume. The costume consists of a yellow skirt with white apron, worn with a loosely laced yellow bodice which reveals a white corset underneath. The figure also wears a white cap with lappets, and a pair of orange shoes. To the right of the figure is a detailed depiction of a leg wearing a red stocking, yellow garter, and orange shoe.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pencil, Pen & Ink, on Paper
Brief description
Costume design by Alix Stone for Heather Harper as Lucy in "The Beggar's Opera", Aldeburgh Festival, June 20th 1963
Physical description
Costume design for Heather Harper as Lucy. The design depicts a full length female figure wearing 18th century style costume. The costume consists of a yellow skirt with white apron, worn with a loosely laced yellow bodice which reveals a white corset underneath. The figure also wears a white cap with lappets, and a pair of orange shoes. To the right of the figure is a detailed depiction of a leg wearing a red stocking, yellow garter, and orange shoe.
Dimensions
  • Height: 560mm
  • Width: 376mm
  • Mount height: 635mm
  • Mount width: 510mm
The design has been glued directly onto a card mount.
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • ' Alix Stone ' (Signature; Lower left hand corner of the design; handwriting; pencil)
  • ' Corset / Frock / Apron / Cap / Shirt / Shoes / 2 Petticoats / Stockings / PREGNANT / PADDING / LUCY ' (Textual information; Lower left hand edge of the design.; handwriting; pencil)
  • ' A 16 Miss Heather Harper ' (Textual information; Upper right hand corner of the mount.; handwriting; pencil)
Object history
This costume design by Alix Stone is part of an extensive collection of designs purchased by the Theatre Museum directly from the artist in 1994. The design was executed for a production of Benjamin Britten's version of John Gay's opera "The Beggar's Opera" at the Aldeburgh Festival, June 20th 1963. The opera was produced by Colin Graham, and conducted by Benjamin Britten. The production was revived at the Edinburgh Festival in August 1963, and at Sadler's Wells in July 1967.
Production
Reason For Production: Commission
Subjects depicted
Associations
Literary referenceThe Beggar's Opera
Bibliographic reference
"The Beggar's Opera, A Ballad-Opera" by John Gay (1728) in a new musical version realised from the original airs by Benjamin Britten (1948). Vocal Score by Arthur Oldham. Published 1949, by Hawkes & Son (London) Ltd. A copy of the vocal score is in theTheatre Museum Library. Catalogue Number M1503.B853 Folio. Dynix Number #509380.
Collection
Accession number
S.83-2001

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdApril 5, 2001
Record URL
Download as: JSON