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The Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington

Costume Design
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 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. 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 2 parts.

  • Costume Design
  • Costume Design
TitleThe Spirit of the Bells in <i>Dick Whittington</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink, felt tip pen and silver pen on paper
Brief description
2 sheets of designs and notes relating to one of the costumes designed by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a sailor on board ship in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017.
Physical description
S.137:1-2019
One of two sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a sailor on board ship in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Three-quarters, coloured view of the costume with its fish head dress, lifebuoy and rope belt, and bell-topped staff. The design is marked with asteristks as instruction to the costumiers for the position of crystals, numbered '5c' and inscribed by Hugh Durrant: 'Mr Julian Clary On ship'. Signed and dated: 'Durrant 2017'

S.137:2-2019
One of two sheets of designs and notes by Hugh Durrant for Julian Clary as the Spirit of the Bells as a sailor, on board ship in Dick Whittington, London Palladium, 14 December 2017. Five uncoloured sketches annotated by Hugh Durrant with details of the construction and decoration of the hat worn on ship. Titled by Hugh Durrant: 'Mr. Julian Clary "On Ship" Hat' 'For 5c'
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.7cm
  • Width: 21.0cm
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 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. 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.137:1 to 2-2019

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Record createdSeptember 11, 2018
Record URL
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