Theatre Costume
ca. 1920-1929 (made)
This costume was worn by Bay Harrington. Bay (a corruption of 'Baby', the name by which she was known to her family in which she was the only girl) trained at the Tree Academy as an opera singer and appeared in performances at Covent Garden and at Her Majesty's Theatre. She had the opportunity of continuing her singing studies at La Scala, but her family felt she was too young, and after a bout of TB affected her voice she abandoned grand opera for the variety stage. Bay appeared with concert groups, including The Seven Romps in 1912, and then in various double acts with other girls including The Trilbies with Eileen Lawler in 1913, touring the Near East and Asia as well as Britain, and with Evelyn Kirkby as Kirkby & Harrington. She appeared in pantomime in London and the regions as well as in variety.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 4 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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| Brief description | Costume worn by Bay Harrington in an unidentified Russian-style variety act, possibly in the 1920s. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | In memory of Bay Harrington - given by Mrs. P. Farley |
| Object history | The costume was worn by Bay Harrington in an unidentified variety act, possibly in the 1920s. The style of the costume is Russian and the size of the breeches and the photograph of her wearing it, implies a comedy treatment of national characteristics. Historical significance: The costume one of a group of variety costumes worn by Bay Harrington in various acts in the 1920s and 1930s. It is rare to have several costumes for a variety artist from the different acts they devised over their careers. |
| Association | |
| Summary | This costume was worn by Bay Harrington. Bay (a corruption of 'Baby', the name by which she was known to her family in which she was the only girl) trained at the Tree Academy as an opera singer and appeared in performances at Covent Garden and at Her Majesty's Theatre. She had the opportunity of continuing her singing studies at La Scala, but her family felt she was too young, and after a bout of TB affected her voice she abandoned grand opera for the variety stage. Bay appeared with concert groups, including The Seven Romps in 1912, and then in various double acts with other girls including The Trilbies with Eileen Lawler in 1913, touring the Near East and Asia as well as Britain, and with Evelyn Kirkby as Kirkby & Harrington. She appeared in pantomime in London and the regions as well as in variety. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.242:1-2002 |
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| Record created | June 27, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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