Not currently on display at the V&A

Hugh Durrant costume design

Costume Design
1992 (Drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume design for Les Dawson as Ada the Cook dressed as Madonna. The design depicts a full length male figure wearing a pantomime dame costume. The costume consists of a red and black basque with exaggerated black conical cups worn with a short black tutu skirt with red polka dots and edging; fishnet tights; and red stilleto shoes. The figure also wears a black conical hat and short blonde wig.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleHugh Durrant costume design (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil crayon on paper
Brief description
Costume design by Hugh Durrant for Les Dawson as Ada the Cook dressed as "Madonna" in "Dick Whittington", Theatre Royal, Plymouth, 1992.
Physical description
Costume design for Les Dawson as Ada the Cook dressed as Madonna. The design depicts a full length male figure wearing a pantomime dame costume. The costume consists of a red and black basque with exaggerated black conical cups worn with a short black tutu skirt with red polka dots and edging; fishnet tights; and red stilleto shoes. The figure also wears a black conical hat and short blonde wig.
Dimensions
  • Height: 420mm
  • Width: 296mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Durrant 1992' (Signature; date; Lower right hand corner.; handwriting; pencil crayon; Durrant, Hugh)
  • 'ADA AS / MADONNA' (Textual information; Lower right hand side.; handwriting; pencil crayon; Durrant, Hugh)
Credit line
Given by Hugh Durrant
Object history
This costume design by Hugh Durrant is part of a group of designs donated to the Theatre Museum by the artist in 1994. The design was executed for a production of the pantomime "Dick Whittington" performed at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth on 19th December 1992. The show was directed by Roger Redfarn, and the lighting was designed by Jenny Cane. The cast included Les Dawson as Ada the Cook, and Michelle Dotrice as the Spirit of the Bells.

Historical significance: An excellent example of late 20th century costume design for pantomime, which is currently poorly represented in the Theatre Museum Collection.
Production
Reason For Production: Commission
Subjects depicted
Associations
Literary referenceDick Whittington
Collection
Accession number
S.722-2001

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Record createdNovember 9, 2001
Record URL
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