Costume Design
1998 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This Shirley Russell (1936-2002) design was for the long-suffering German wife Lady Hilde Latymer in Sheridan Morley's production of Noël Coward's last play A Song at Twilight. With Vanessa Redgrave as Carlotta, and her brother Corin Redgrave as her ex-lover Sir Hugo Latymer whom Carlotta threatens to ruin, this was the first time they worked together in the West End. The production opened with the star cast, including Matthew Bose, at the Gielgud Theatre on the 20th October 1999, having originally been produced with different actors at the King's Head Theatre.
A Song at Twilight, a dark comedy, was set in a hotel in a luxurious Swiss hotel in the 1960s. The Independent review noted: 'The actors benefit no end from Simon Higlett's handsome sets and Shirley Russell's excellent costumes which carefully delineate the characters', and that of The Express: 'Any other actress would have refused to wear a skimpy frock, but Vanessa gamely exposes lumps and bumps of middle-age the part demands.' Shirley Russell did a lot of design for film with her ex-husband Ken Russell but little theatre work, and was specifically asked by Vanessa Redgrave to design this production.
A Song at Twilight, a dark comedy, was set in a hotel in a luxurious Swiss hotel in the 1960s. The Independent review noted: 'The actors benefit no end from Simon Higlett's handsome sets and Shirley Russell's excellent costumes which carefully delineate the characters', and that of The Express: 'Any other actress would have refused to wear a skimpy frock, but Vanessa gamely exposes lumps and bumps of middle-age the part demands.' Shirley Russell did a lot of design for film with her ex-husband Ken Russell but little theatre work, and was specifically asked by Vanessa Redgrave to design this production.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | pencil, pen and ink and watercolour on paper, with fabric swatches. |
| Brief description | Costume design by Shirley Russell (1935-2002) for Kika Markham as Lady Hilde Latymer in A Song at Twilight, Gielgud Theatre, 20 October 2000. Pencil, pen and ink and watercolour, with fabric swatches. |
| Physical description | Pencil, pen and ink and watercolour design for a knee-length checked mauve and blue dress and jacket, shown on a full-length front view of the character, and on a line drawing to its right showing the dress underneath, a hat and necklace. The dress has a scoop neckline, three-quarter length sleeves, and the jacket is single-breasted with pockets each side at hip level. The title of the play A Song at Twilight, the name of the character, Hilde and the name of the actress Kika Markham are inscribed at the top, and an explanation of details of the design are inscribed in black ink on the left of the design. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | "A Song at Twilight" "Hilde" - "Kika Markham" "Jersey wool dress & Jacket in soft mauves - The collar, belt & pocket flaps are of a soft greeny blue leather - She wears spectacles on a chain & a necklace of antique beads. Simple earrings. The jacket sleeves are cut in one with the jacket". (Inscribed in black ink) |
| Credit line | Given by Victoria Russell |
| Object history | Costume design for A Song at Twilight by Noel Coward, directed by Sherian Morley, Gielgud Theatre, previewed 12 October 1999, opened 20 October 1999, closed 4 March 2000. Starring Vanessa Redgrave, Corin Redgrave, Kika Markham and Matthew Bose. The production originated at the Kings Head Theatre, December 1998. |
| Association | |
| Summary | This Shirley Russell (1936-2002) design was for the long-suffering German wife Lady Hilde Latymer in Sheridan Morley's production of Noël Coward's last play A Song at Twilight. With Vanessa Redgrave as Carlotta, and her brother Corin Redgrave as her ex-lover Sir Hugo Latymer whom Carlotta threatens to ruin, this was the first time they worked together in the West End. The production opened with the star cast, including Matthew Bose, at the Gielgud Theatre on the 20th October 1999, having originally been produced with different actors at the King's Head Theatre. A Song at Twilight, a dark comedy, was set in a hotel in a luxurious Swiss hotel in the 1960s. The Independent review noted: 'The actors benefit no end from Simon Higlett's handsome sets and Shirley Russell's excellent costumes which carefully delineate the characters', and that of The Express: 'Any other actress would have refused to wear a skimpy frock, but Vanessa gamely exposes lumps and bumps of middle-age the part demands.' Shirley Russell did a lot of design for film with her ex-husband Ken Russell but little theatre work, and was specifically asked by Vanessa Redgrave to design this production. |
| Associated objects | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.6-2007 |
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| Record created | February 1, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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