Not currently on display at the V&A

Hugh Durrant costume design

Costume Design
1992 (Painted, drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume design for the babes as Sea Urchins in the City of Atlantis scene. The design depicts two full length figures, one a boy, the other a girl, both wearing pantomime costumes. The male figure on the left wears blue body tights painted with fish scales; and a pair of fantastical trousers in the shape of fish fins, decorated with a large shell at the waist front. The figure also wears a necklace of shells, and an elaborate blue spiked head-dress. The female figure also wears blue body tights painted with fish scales; a long blue wig that covers most of her body; and a large blue head-dress in the shape of a shell. She carries a large blue shell in her hands.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleHugh Durrant costume design (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil, white paint and pencil crayon on paper
Brief description
Costume design by Hugh Durrant for the babes as Sea Urchins in the "City of Atlantis" scene in "Dick Whittington", Theatre Royal, Plymouth, 1992.
Physical description
Costume design for the babes as Sea Urchins in the City of Atlantis scene. The design depicts two full length figures, one a boy, the other a girl, both wearing pantomime costumes. The male figure on the left wears blue body tights painted with fish scales; and a pair of fantastical trousers in the shape of fish fins, decorated with a large shell at the waist front. The figure also wears a necklace of shells, and an elaborate blue spiked head-dress. The female figure also wears blue body tights painted with fish scales; a long blue wig that covers most of her body; and a large blue head-dress in the shape of a shell. She carries a large blue shell in her hands.
Dimensions
  • Height: 420mm
  • Width: 296mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • ' Durrant 1992 ' (Signature; date; Lower left hand side; handwriting; pencil; Durrant, Hugh)
  • ' BABES AS / "SEA URCHINS" / ATLANTIS ' (Textual information; Lower right hand corner.; handwriting; pencil; Durrant, Hugh)
  • ' These / only ' (Textual information; Upper right hand corner; handwriting; pencil; Durrant, Hugh)
  • ' x ? ' (Textual information; To the lower right of the male figure.; handwriting; pencil; Durrant, Hugh)
  • ' x ? ' (Textual information; To the lower right of the female figure.; handwriting; pencil; 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
Literary referenceDick Whittington
Collection
Accession number
S.748-2001

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Record createdNovember 13, 2001
Record URL
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