Not currently on display at the V&A

costume design

Design
2018 (designed)
Artist/Maker

This costume design was created by the designer Bunny Christie for the production of Company at the Gielgud Theatre in 2018. The production, directed by Marianne Elliott, was a revival of the Stephen Sondheim and George Furth musical which originally premiered in 1970.

Company explores themes of love, marriage and relationships. At her 35th birthday party, Bobbie is surrounded by her friends (‘company’), five couples who pose the question of why Bobbie isn’t married yet. Through several vignettes featuring her boyfriends and married friends, Bobbie self-examines her relationships and what it means to commit to another person.

In a first for the musical, Elliott’s production changed the gender of a number of the characters. In the original book, Bobbie is Robert (Bobby), Bobby's three boyfriends are female, and her friends, same-sex couple Jamie and Paul, are Amy and Paul. Sondheim approved the changes and worked with Marianne Elliott on revisions of the lyrics to reflect her vision of a 21st century Bobby/Bobbie: A successful and independent woman facing pressure to settle down and have a family in her mid-30s. Rosalie Craig played Bobbie, with Patti LuPone as Joanne, Mel Giedroyc as Sarah and Jonathan Bailey as Jamie. The production was designed by Bunny Christie, choreographed by Liam Steel and conducted by Joel Fram.

Company received two Evening Standard Awards, two Critics' Circle Theatre Awards and four Olivier Awards. Rosalie Craig and Marianne Elliott won Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical Performance and Best Director. Bunny Christie was the Critics' Circle choice for Best Designer and she also received the Olivier Award for Best Set Design.


Object details

Category
Object type
Titlecostume design (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil on paper
Brief description
Costume design for 'Larry' in Company, designed by Bunny Christie
Physical description
Costume design for the character 'Larry' played by Ben Lewis in Company including two pencil sketches of different outfits.
Dimensions
  • Height: 296mm
  • Width: 420mm
Credit line
Given by the designer
Summary
This costume design was created by the designer Bunny Christie for the production of Company at the Gielgud Theatre in 2018. The production, directed by Marianne Elliott, was a revival of the Stephen Sondheim and George Furth musical which originally premiered in 1970.

Company explores themes of love, marriage and relationships. At her 35th birthday party, Bobbie is surrounded by her friends (‘company’), five couples who pose the question of why Bobbie isn’t married yet. Through several vignettes featuring her boyfriends and married friends, Bobbie self-examines her relationships and what it means to commit to another person.

In a first for the musical, Elliott’s production changed the gender of a number of the characters. In the original book, Bobbie is Robert (Bobby), Bobby's three boyfriends are female, and her friends, same-sex couple Jamie and Paul, are Amy and Paul. Sondheim approved the changes and worked with Marianne Elliott on revisions of the lyrics to reflect her vision of a 21st century Bobby/Bobbie: A successful and independent woman facing pressure to settle down and have a family in her mid-30s. Rosalie Craig played Bobbie, with Patti LuPone as Joanne, Mel Giedroyc as Sarah and Jonathan Bailey as Jamie. The production was designed by Bunny Christie, choreographed by Liam Steel and conducted by Joel Fram.

Company received two Evening Standard Awards, two Critics' Circle Theatre Awards and four Olivier Awards. Rosalie Craig and Marianne Elliott won Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical Performance and Best Director. Bunny Christie was the Critics' Circle choice for Best Designer and she also received the Olivier Award for Best Set Design.
Collection
Accession number
S.20-2022

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Record createdFebruary 24, 2022
Record URL
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