The Spirit of the Bells as a Pearly King in Dick Whittington
Costume Design
2017 (designed)
2017 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a set of designs, notes and fabric swatches for one of the ten costumes designed by Hugh Durrant and worn by Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a Pearly King in the pantomime Dick Whittington at the London Palladium, 14 December 2017. As the star of the show Julian Clary wore what Claire Allfree described in her Daily Telegraph review as: 'a parade of exquisitely outlandish outfits', each based on his role as the Spirit of the Bells but working as gloriously ebullient visual metaphors relating to London, or to the Spirit's exploits in the action. This costume was inspired by London's East End tradition of 'Pearly Kings and Queens' wearing costumes highly decorated with pearl buttons.
Dick Whittington was a lavishly designed production, the second pantomime mounted in the West End by Qdos after Cinderella, December 2016, which brought pantomime back to the theatre with great success after a gap of thirty years. Dick Whittington was followed in December 2018 by Snow White, each featuring Julian Clary as an outlandish and extravagantly dressed character wearing Hugh Durrant's witty and inventive costumes. In Cinderella he played Dandini, and in Snow White the Man in the Mirror.
Hugh Durrant is an award-winning London-based theatre designer whose costumes for Julian Clary and Elaine Paige in Dick Whittington were nominated for best costume designs of 2017 in the Olivier Awards, April 2018. All other costumes in the production were designed by Ron Briggs, with sets by Ian Westbrook.
Dick Whittington was a lavishly designed production, the second pantomime mounted in the West End by Qdos after Cinderella, December 2016, which brought pantomime back to the theatre with great success after a gap of thirty years. Dick Whittington was followed in December 2018 by Snow White, each featuring Julian Clary as an outlandish and extravagantly dressed character wearing Hugh Durrant's witty and inventive costumes. In Cinderella he played Dandini, and in Snow White the Man in the Mirror.
Hugh Durrant is an award-winning London-based theatre designer whose costumes for Julian Clary and Elaine Paige in Dick Whittington were nominated for best costume designs of 2017 in the Olivier Awards, April 2018. All other costumes in the production were designed by Ron Briggs, with sets by Ian Westbrook.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 4 parts.
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| Title | The Spirit of the Bells as a Pearly King in <i>Dick Whittington</i> (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink, silver pencil, felt tip pen, fabric, and buttons on paper |
| Brief description | 4 sheets of designs, notes, a fabric swatch and pearl button samples relating to one of the costumes designed by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a Pearly King in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. |
| Physical description | S.132:1-2019 One of 4 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with a fabric swatch and samples of pearl buttons, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a Pearly King in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Design for a multicoloured costume inspired by a traditional East End Pearly King outfit featuring pearl buttons on his hat, tunic, breeches, boots and wings. Numbered 18 and inscribed by Hugh Durrant: 'Mr Julian Clary as Pearly King'. Signed and dated 'Durrant 2017' S.132:2-2019 One of 4 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with a fabric swatch and samples of pearl buttons, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a Pearly King in <i>Dick Whittington</i>, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Uncoloured sketches of the wing structure and the basic back view, without ostrich feather trim. Inscribed by Hugh Durrant: 'Mr Julian Clary "Pearly King"', and: 'For 18' S.132:3-2019 One of 4 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with a fabric swatch and samples of pearl buttons, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a Pearly King in <i>Dick Whittington</i>, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Sheet with black fabric swatch attached, inscribed by Hugh Durrant: 'Pearly King base fabric' S.132:4-2019 One of 4 sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant, with a fabric swatch and samples of pearl buttons, for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a Pearly King in <i>Dick Whittington</i>, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Sheet with three samples of pearl buttons, inscribed by a member of the Qdos Wardrobe staff: 'Hi Hugh, would you be happy with a selection of these buttons for the Pearly King/Julian's sweet shop? Thanks Lucy' |
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| Credit line | Given by the artist |
| Associations | |
| Summary | This is a set of designs, notes and fabric swatches for one of the ten costumes designed by Hugh Durrant and worn by Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a Pearly King in the pantomime Dick Whittington at the London Palladium, 14 December 2017. As the star of the show Julian Clary wore what Claire Allfree described in her Daily Telegraph review as: 'a parade of exquisitely outlandish outfits', each based on his role as the Spirit of the Bells but working as gloriously ebullient visual metaphors relating to London, or to the Spirit's exploits in the action. This costume was inspired by London's East End tradition of 'Pearly Kings and Queens' wearing costumes highly decorated with pearl buttons. Dick Whittington was a lavishly designed production, the second pantomime mounted in the West End by Qdos after Cinderella, December 2016, which brought pantomime back to the theatre with great success after a gap of thirty years. Dick Whittington was followed in December 2018 by Snow White, each featuring Julian Clary as an outlandish and extravagantly dressed character wearing Hugh Durrant's witty and inventive costumes. In Cinderella he played Dandini, and in Snow White the Man in the Mirror. Hugh Durrant is an award-winning London-based theatre designer whose costumes for Julian Clary and Elaine Paige in Dick Whittington were nominated for best costume designs of 2017 in the Olivier Awards, April 2018. All other costumes in the production were designed by Ron Briggs, with sets by Ian Westbrook. |
| Associated object | S.141-2019 (Object) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.132:1 to 4-2019 |
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| Record created | September 11, 2018 |
| Record URL |
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