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Theatre Costume thumbnail 2
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This object consists of 5 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Theatre Costume

ca. 1960 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume from Murray's Cabaret Club. 'Asian'-inspired costume consisting of a half skirt of grey brocade with attached G-string, a neckpiece, a bracelet and a wig.

Cabaret costumes are among the most intricate and lavish of all theatrical costumes, successors, in ingenuity and style, to pantomime costumes of the late 19th and early 20th century. At that time whole scenes were devoted to parades of costumes on a theme, like flowers, styles of porcelain, sweets or countries. In the 1960s the idea of parading spectacular and imaginative costumes continued in nightclub floor shows, though on a smaller scale.

This costume was worn by a showgirl at Murray's Cabaret Club, an intimate London nightclub situated in Beak Street in Soho. Murray's opened in 1933 and finally closed its doors in 1975. The founder, Percival Murray, established it as a respectable restaurant and club and it had a strict membership and admission policy. Royalty and film stars were regular patrons. The club was known for its floorshows which featured showgirls in elaborate, if brief, costumes.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 5 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Theatre Costume
  • Cabaret Costume
  • Skirt
  • Theatre Costume
  • Cabaret Costume
  • Neckpiece
  • Theatre Costume
  • Cabaret Costume
  • Wig
  • Theatre Costumes
  • Bracelets (Jewelry)
  • Theatre Costume
  • Cabaret Costume
  • Feathers
Brief description
'Asian'-inspired costume from Murray's Cabaret Club
Dimensions
  • Unlettered part length: 1200mm
  • Unlettered part width: 740mm
  • A length: 389mm
  • A width: 183mm
  • C length: 398mm
  • C width: 365mm
Summary
Costume from Murray's Cabaret Club. 'Asian'-inspired costume consisting of a half skirt of grey brocade with attached G-string, a neckpiece, a bracelet and a wig.

Cabaret costumes are among the most intricate and lavish of all theatrical costumes, successors, in ingenuity and style, to pantomime costumes of the late 19th and early 20th century. At that time whole scenes were devoted to parades of costumes on a theme, like flowers, styles of porcelain, sweets or countries. In the 1960s the idea of parading spectacular and imaginative costumes continued in nightclub floor shows, though on a smaller scale.

This costume was worn by a showgirl at Murray's Cabaret Club, an intimate London nightclub situated in Beak Street in Soho. Murray's opened in 1933 and finally closed its doors in 1975. The founder, Percival Murray, established it as a respectable restaurant and club and it had a strict membership and admission policy. Royalty and film stars were regular patrons. The club was known for its floorshows which featured showgirls in elaborate, if brief, costumes.
Collection
Accession number
S.960&D-1984

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
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