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Theatre Costume

1994 (original costume) (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume from the musical The Lion King for the character of Sarabi. The costume consists of a tightly fitting corset worn over a one piece draped silk sleeved and skirted cloak, and is worn with two leather arm cuffs and a wide beaded necklace. It was designed by Julie Taymor (b.1952) and was worn with a mask co-designed by Julie Taymor and Michael Curry (owner and president of Michael Curry Design Inc).

Julie Taymor is a director and designer and has worked with both stage and screen productions. She received two Tony Awards for her work on The Lion King, one for direction and one for Original Costume design, making her the first woman to win a Tony Award for directing a musical.

The musical of The Lion King is based on the original 1994 Disney film. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical debuted on the 8th of July 1997 at the Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, Minnesota, before premiering on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on October 15th 1997. The London premiere of The Lion King took place at the Lyceum Theatre on October 19th 1999 and the show is still running.

Sarabi is the queen of the Pride Lands; mother of Simba, mate of Mufasa and sister-in-law of Scar. This costume is a replica of the original Sarabi costume that was specially made for the V&A.

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interact Design and make your own story Use objects from around the home to help you create your own story. Then design the costumes and sets, and bring it to life! Take a look at the objects in our collections for more inspiration. Designed for ages 7 and up.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 7 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Corsets
  • Theatre Costume
  • Theatre Costume
  • Theatre Costume
  • Necklaces
  • Theatre Costume
  • Theatre Costume
  • Theatre Costume
  • Theatre Costume
Materials and techniques
Silk, leather, cotton, shell, glass, wood and brass
Brief description
Costume from the musical The Lion King for the character of Sarabi. Replica of original costume designed by Julie Taymor for the debut production in 1994.
Physical description
Costume from the musical The Lion King for the character of Sarabi. The costume consists of a tightly fitting corset worn over a one piece draped silk sleeved and skirted cloak, and is worn with two leather arm cuffs and a wide beaded necklace.
S.3140:1-2010: Tightly fitting brown, white and yellow corset made from cotton drill and stretch satin and fastening at the back with a nylon zip. The entire surface of the corset is decorated with motifs made from bands and groups of cowrie shells and brass, glass, wood and seed beads.
S.3140:2-2010: Full body sleeved and skirted silk twill 'drape'. The vivid yellow ground has been digitally printed with geometric patterns in black and rust brown. Stretch satin panels have been added where the 'drape' fits closely on the arms and legs, but the remainder falls softly over the head and hangs from the shoulders to form a draped ankle length skirt.
S.3140:3-2010: Heavy circular necklace on a cotton drill base, decorated with rows of dark brown, amber and yellow glass, wood and seed beads.
S.3140:4, 5, 6, 7-2010: Hand painted gold leather cuff, decorated with three parallel ridges. Designed to be worn of the forearm and to fit closely from wrist to just below the elbow.
Production typeCopy
Gallery label
(2022)
Re:Imagining Musicals, 15 October 2022 - 4 February 2024

Replica of the costume for Sarabi in The Lion King
2010
The Lion King stage musical is based on the 1994 Disney animated film. This costume for Simba’s mother Sarabi uses a traditional African Shoowa textile pattern demonstrating strength and elegance. The lioness mask can be interpreted as both a water urn balancing on Sarabi’s head, or as a queen’s crown.
Designed by Julie Taymor
Silk, leather, cotton, shell, glass, wood and brass
Museum no. S.3140:1 to 7-2010
Given by The Walt Disney Company
Credit line
Given by Buena Vista Theatrical Group Ltd
Object history
Replica of the costume for the original 1994 production made for the V&A for display purposes.
Production
Attribution note: Replica of the original costume from the debut production in 1994
Literary referenceThe Lion King
Summary
Costume from the musical The Lion King for the character of Sarabi. The costume consists of a tightly fitting corset worn over a one piece draped silk sleeved and skirted cloak, and is worn with two leather arm cuffs and a wide beaded necklace. It was designed by Julie Taymor (b.1952) and was worn with a mask co-designed by Julie Taymor and Michael Curry (owner and president of Michael Curry Design Inc).

Julie Taymor is a director and designer and has worked with both stage and screen productions. She received two Tony Awards for her work on The Lion King, one for direction and one for Original Costume design, making her the first woman to win a Tony Award for directing a musical.

The musical of The Lion King is based on the original 1994 Disney film. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical debuted on the 8th of July 1997 at the Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, Minnesota, before premiering on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on October 15th 1997. The London premiere of The Lion King took place at the Lyceum Theatre on October 19th 1999 and the show is still running.

Sarabi is the queen of the Pride Lands; mother of Simba, mate of Mufasa and sister-in-law of Scar. This costume is a replica of the original Sarabi costume that was specially made for the V&A.
Collection
Accession number
S.3140:1-2010

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Record createdDecember 3, 2010
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