Theatre costume
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
Dyer, Chris (costume designer)
- Materials and Techniques:
[Theatre costume] Fibreglass, synthetic wool, lycra, net, plastic, foam rubber, felt
[Theatre costume] Lycra and cotton
- Credit Line:
Given by the Royal Opera House
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
Theatre & Performance, room 105, case 11
- Image unavailable
Lucio Berio's opera Un re in ascolto (A King Listens) was premiered in Saltzburg in 1984 and given its first British performances at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 1989. The King is a dying theatrical impresario named Prospero, whose company is staging a musical version of The Tempest. The opera's Prospero watches rehearsals and is lost in his own thoughts, dreaming of a production very different to the extravaganza planned by his director. The stage is filled with acrobats and dancers, some dressed as the animals on the island inhabited by Shakespeare's Prospero.
Animal costumes are a challenge for designers and costumiers. Should they be as realistic as it is possible to make them, or should they simply suggest the creature that they represent? If worn by dancers they must be lightweight and allow easy movement. This costume combines a realistic headdress with lycra one-piece bodytights painted with scales. Large headdresses which completely conceal the face can be uncomfortable and this one is padded with foam rubber.
Physical description
[Theatre costume] Large fibreglass head in shape of a trout, with open mouth and large plastic eyes painted white with large round black pupil. The fibreglass is overlaid with an openweave woollen fabric, over which is a layer of silver grey lycra painted in shades of grey, to represent scales. Over the whole head is a layer of fine grey net. On the underside of the head, a shaped panel has been removed and covered with coarse net; from below the opening is attached a panel of silver grey lycra overlaid with a panel of fine grey net. Attached on the inside is a helmet of stiffened felt with elastic to fit under the chin. The inside is extensively padded with foam rubber.
[Theatre costume] Unitard with feet in silver grey lycra. The front in subtly printed with palest flesh 'scales'. The backs of the arms, legs and the back are printed with oval 'scales' in tones of grey, shading into dark grey at the centre back, wrists and feet. The costume fastens up the back with hooks and eyes. The soles of the feet are cotton jersey.
Date
1989 (made)
Artist/maker
Dyer, Chris (costume designer)
Materials and Techniques
[Theatre costume] Fibreglass, synthetic wool, lycra, net, plastic, foam rubber, felt
[Theatre costume] Lycra and cotton
Marks and inscriptions
[Theatre costume] "(Printed) OPERA / DE PARIS BASTILLE / (printed) ROLE: (handwritten) Truite / (printed) M: (handwritten) me BARSI / (printed) CAT: ACTE:"
[Theatre costume] "PATTERSON, NANCY"
[Theatre costume] "(Printed) OPERA / DE PARIS BASTILLE / (Handwritten)UN RE IN ASCOLTO / (printed) ROLE (handwritten) DANSEUSES DE SALLE / (printed) M (handwritten) BARSI / (printed) CAT (handwritten) DANSE I (printed) ACTE"
[Theatre costume] "(handwritten) PATTERSON, N."
Dimensions
[Theatre costume] Height: 33 cm, Width: 36 cm, Depth: 63 cm
[Theatre costume] Height: 141 cm flat, Width: 33 cm flat, waist
Object history note
The costume is for a Trout in Luciano Berio's opera Un re in Ascolta, a co-production between the Royal Opera and the Paris Opera. It was performed by the Royal Opera in 1989.
Descriptive line
Costume for a Trout in Luciano Berio's opera Un re in Ascolta designed by Chris Dyer, Royal Opera, 1989.
Exhibition History
Theatre and Performance (Victoria and Albert Museum, Galleries 103 -106 01/01/2009-31/12/2009)
Materials
Plastic; Cotton (textile); Felt; Net (textile); Lycra; Fibreglass; Foam rubber; Synthetic wool
Techniques
Glueing; Machine stitching; Hand stitching
Categories
Entertainment & Leisure; Stage costumes; Hats & headwear
Collection code
T&P
