Winter school uniform designed by Rob Howell for Matilda in Matilda the Musical, Stratford-upon-Avon, 2010 and London, 2011
Theatre Costume
Rob Howell designed this costume for Matilda Wormwood, the major protagonist in the critically-acclaimed long-running musical Matilda the Musical written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, based on the 1988 children's book Matilda by Roald Dahl. Produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the show opened at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon on 9 December 2010, intended as a Christmas show running until 30 January 2011. Its success in Stratford led to a West End transfer to the Cambridge Theatre where it opened on 24 November 2011.
Matilda the Musical has subsequently been produced on Broadway and in many major cities around the world, including Toronto, Cape Town, Singapore and Sydney. It has won a host of awards including seven 2012 Olivier Awards - at the time the greatest number of such awards ever won by a single show.
Matilda's typical British winter school uniform with its pleated skirt, blazer, felt hat, socks and Start-Rite shoes, has been worn by dozens of girls playing the precocious and tenacious character, and Matilda's appearance in this costume has become an iconic image of the show, featuring on several of its posters and on publicity material. The gift includes all the items of uniform worn by Matilda for school and for the gym session, as well as her plain summer dress with its accessories and shoes. Several of the items were worn by Olivia Cleverley, who played the role on tour and in London.
Matilda the Musical has subsequently been produced on Broadway and in many major cities around the world, including Toronto, Cape Town, Singapore and Sydney. It has won a host of awards including seven 2012 Olivier Awards - at the time the greatest number of such awards ever won by a single show.
Matilda's typical British winter school uniform with its pleated skirt, blazer, felt hat, socks and Start-Rite shoes, has been worn by dozens of girls playing the precocious and tenacious character, and Matilda's appearance in this costume has become an iconic image of the show, featuring on several of its posters and on publicity material. The gift includes all the items of uniform worn by Matilda for school and for the gym session, as well as her plain summer dress with its accessories and shoes. Several of the items were worn by Olivia Cleverley, who played the role on tour and in London.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 11 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
|
| Title | Winter school uniform designed by Rob Howell for Matilda in <i>Matilda the Musical</i>, Stratford-upon-Avon, 2010 and London, 2011 (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Cotton, wool, felt, nylon, elastane and leather |
| Brief description | Winter school uniform designed by Rob Howell for Matilda in Matilda the Musical, adapted by Dennis Kelly from the 1988 book by Roald Dahl, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 9 December 2010 to 30 January 2011, and Cambridge Theatre, London, opening 24 November 2011 |
| Physical description | S.141:1-2020 Grey felt school blazer with dark grey synthetic lining, two lower outer pockets, and a breast pocket (proper left) sewn with a Crunchem Hall school badge featuring the school emblem of a hand wielding a mallet over a girl's head, surrounded by four blue stars. There are two internal pockets, one zipped. The blazer has three button holes, two grey buttons (middle button lacking), and is piped with maroon, green and white twisted piping. S.141:2-2020 Grey woollen fabric pleated school skirt with shoulder straps, the waistband sewn with one large popper, used instead of the grey button and buttonhole fastening for speed of changing. Royal Shakespeare Company label sewn in the back of the waistband, without name of actor inscribed. S.141:3-2020 White shirt, 65% polyester and 35% cotton, with collar and six pearl buttons sewn into the proper right placket to simulate button fastening, but with six metal poppers sewn inside for speed of changing. Cuffs fastened by elastic secured to a pearl button on top of each buttonhole to simulate button fastening. Label inside printed 'M&S Made in Bangladesh. Age 8 yrs. Marks & Spencer PLC, PO Box 3339, Chester, CH99 9QS' S.141:4-2020 Maroon and white striped tie labelled inside 'William Turner Schoolwear Accessories'. Made in the UK' S.141:5-2020s Grey felt boater with maroon, white and green petersham ribbon with integral flat bow and elastic chin strap. Labelled inside 'Olney Headgear, Made in England, 100% wool, Small' S.141:6-2020 White vent-patterned ankle sock marked in yellow adhesive capital letters with the initials 'OC' of the actor Olivia Cleverley S.141:7-2020 White vent-patterned ankle sock marked in yellow adhesive capital letters with the initials 'OC' of the actor Olivia Cleverley S.141:8-2020 Grey cotton lycra cycling shorts worn under the school tunic, the waistband taken in by machine stitching S.141:9-2020 Girl's black lace-up leather school shoe with black laces and eight eyelets. Labelled inside with the name of the actor 'Imogen Darwin' S.141:10-2020 Girl's black lace-up leather school shoe with black laces and eight eyelets. Labelled inside with the name of the actor 'Imogen Darwin' S.141:11-2020 Long-haired brown wig on net wig base |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | Gallery rotation, 2022
COSTUME FOR MATILDA WORMWOOD IN MATILDA THE MUSICAL
2019
Designer Rob Howell created this typical British school uniform for five-year-old Matilda in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s award-winning musical, based on Roald Dahl’s 1988 children’s book. The girls who play Matilda are aged between eight and twelve and must be under 4 foot 3 inches (1.3 metres) tall. Four young actors share the role each week.
Designed by Rob Howell
Cotton, wool, felt, nylon, elastane and leather
Given by the Royal Shakespeare Company
Museum no. S.141:1 to 11-2020(07/3/2022) |
| Credit line | Given by the Royal Shakespeare Company |
| Association | |
| Summary | Rob Howell designed this costume for Matilda Wormwood, the major protagonist in the critically-acclaimed long-running musical Matilda the Musical written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, based on the 1988 children's book Matilda by Roald Dahl. Produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the show opened at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon on 9 December 2010, intended as a Christmas show running until 30 January 2011. Its success in Stratford led to a West End transfer to the Cambridge Theatre where it opened on 24 November 2011. Matilda the Musical has subsequently been produced on Broadway and in many major cities around the world, including Toronto, Cape Town, Singapore and Sydney. It has won a host of awards including seven 2012 Olivier Awards - at the time the greatest number of such awards ever won by a single show. Matilda's typical British winter school uniform with its pleated skirt, blazer, felt hat, socks and Start-Rite shoes, has been worn by dozens of girls playing the precocious and tenacious character, and Matilda's appearance in this costume has become an iconic image of the show, featuring on several of its posters and on publicity material. The gift includes all the items of uniform worn by Matilda for school and for the gym session, as well as her plain summer dress with its accessories and shoes. Several of the items were worn by Olivia Cleverley, who played the role on tour and in London. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.141:1 to 11-2020 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | December 2, 2019 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
