Blue cotton summer dress 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 2020 to 30 January 2011, and Cambridge Theatre, London, opening 24 November 2011

S.142:1-2020
Pale blue polycotton summer school dress with small breast pocket proper left, collar, short puffed sleeves, integral fabric tie belt, and four blue buttons. The collar features a line of blue topstitching, and the bodice is gathered onto the skirt at the waist. The fabric features fine white, light blue and black stripes with tiny blue and white dots.

S.142:2-2020
Navy blue cotton, nylon and elastane tights labelled age 7 to 8 years, with the letters O.C. for the actor Olivia Cleverley embroidered in yellow thread on both soles and inscribed in ink on the John Lewis label on the back seam. The John Lewis label notes that they were made in Poland.

S.142:3-2020
Dark blue leather round-toe T-bar summer sandal for the right foot with silver buckle fastening, upper pierced with foliate and dot design, and composition sole. Labelled inside with the name of the actor Christina Fray.

S.142:4-2020
Dark blue leather round-toe T-bar summer sandal for the left foot with silver buckle fastening, upper pierced with foliate and dot design, and composition sole. Labelled inside with the name of the actor Christina Fray.

S.142:5-2020
White scoop-neck cotton vest, trimmed at neckline and armholes, with a small satin bow attached to the centre front of the neckline, and labelled age 10 years. Its John Lewis label notes that it was made in India.

S.142:6-2020
White cotton pants, trimmed at waist and leg holes, and labelled for age 8 years. With John Lewis label inscribed in ink O.C. for the actor Olivia Cleverley

Given by the Royal Shakespeare Company

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 summer school uniform dress and sandals have been worn by dozens of girls playing the precocious and tenacious character. The gift includes all the items of school uniform worn by Matilda, including her winter school uniform with its accessories and shoes. Several of the items were worn by Olivia Cleverley, who played the role on tour and in London.

S.142:1 to 6-2020