Not currently on display at the V&A

Costume Design

1973 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design for Simple Simon in Jack and the Beanstalk, showing two full length male figures, to the left, a demure figure in a long sleeved jerkin in orange with vertical blue stripes and blue buttons and a blue belt, black tights with vertical blue stripes, orange calf length boots and a high crowned orange hat with a small brim decorated with similar stripes rising to the apex and trimmed with a sage green feather, and to the right, a cheeky figure thumbing his nose, wearing a dark purple, sleeveless, winged jerkin, the fronts edged with pink and fastening with pink buttons and a dark purple belt, over a shirt, the sleeves striped diagonally in bands of pink, blue and black, with brown tights, purple calf length boots and a high crowned, dark purple hat with a small brim trimmed with a thin, curling, purple feather. The design is signed and dated and inscribed with the name of the actor.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pencil and felt tip pen on paper
Brief description
Design by Cynthia Tingey for Simple Simon in Jack and the Beanstalk, London Palladium, 1973
Physical description
Design for Simple Simon in Jack and the Beanstalk, showing two full length male figures, to the left, a demure figure in a long sleeved jerkin in orange with vertical blue stripes and blue buttons and a blue belt, black tights with vertical blue stripes, orange calf length boots and a high crowned orange hat with a small brim decorated with similar stripes rising to the apex and trimmed with a sage green feather, and to the right, a cheeky figure thumbing his nose, wearing a dark purple, sleeveless, winged jerkin, the fronts edged with pink and fastening with pink buttons and a dark purple belt, over a shirt, the sleeves striped diagonally in bands of pink, blue and black, with brown tights, purple calf length boots and a high crowned, dark purple hat with a small brim trimmed with a thin, curling, purple feather. The design is signed and dated and inscribed with the name of the actor.
Dimensions
  • Height: 208mm
  • Width: 180mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Cynthia Tingey - '73' (Signature; Centre right of figures; Handwriting; Felt tip pen)
  • 'Frankie / Howard -' (Textual information; Upper centre; Handwriting; Felt tip pen)
Credit line
Given by the artist
Object history
This is one of a collection of designs for pantomime and cabaret, given to the Theatre Museum by the designer, Cynthia Tingey, who created the costumes for 15 of the annual London Palladium pantomimes. This design was made for the pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, at the London Palladium, 18 December 1973. The production was directed by Albert J. Knight. Frankie Howerd played Simple Simon.

Historical significance: An example of pantomime costume design of the second half of the 20th century and of the work of a designer who specialised in pantomime and variety design. It also illustrates a feature of pantomime of the 20th century: the employment of stars of popular music, entertainment and television in leading roles, rather than established actors.
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceJack and the Beanstalk
Collection
Accession number
S.129-1999

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Record createdJuly 4, 2000
Record URL
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