Not currently on display at the V&A

Theatre Costume

1973 (Made)
Artist/Maker

Wide scoop necked, sleeveless dress in fluorescent lime green crystal organza, the front appliqued with a bold net, braid and sequin highlighted Eiffel Tower; the skirt, cut to the knee at the front and long at the back, is made of a top layer of the same fluorescent green fabric, over a bright blue nylon chiffon with an underskirt of dull green nylon chiffon. The costume is lined with white cotton and fastens down the back with a zip fastener.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Crystal organza, iridescent net, sequins, braid, cotton
Brief description
Costume for Anna-Anna (Lust) worn by Lesley Collier in Kenneth MacMillan's ballet Seven Deadly Sins, designed by Ian Spurling, The Royal Ballet, 1973
Physical description
Wide scoop necked, sleeveless dress in fluorescent lime green crystal organza, the front appliqued with a bold net, braid and sequin highlighted Eiffel Tower; the skirt, cut to the knee at the front and long at the back, is made of a top layer of the same fluorescent green fabric, over a bright blue nylon chiffon with an underskirt of dull green nylon chiffon. The costume is lined with white cotton and fastens down the back with a zip fastener.
Dimensions
  • Shoulder to hem length: 122cm
  • Across shoulders width: 33cm
  • Weight: 0.4kg
Marks and inscriptions
  • "ROYAL OPERA HOUSE / PRODUCTION: SEVEN DEADLY SINS / ACT: SCENE: / Character ANNA (LUST) / Name L COLLIER / COVENT GARDEN / 5" (Label; Back neck)
  • "ROYAL OPERA HOUSE / PRODUCTION: / ACT: SCENE: / Character / Name / COVENT GARDEN" (Printing)
  • "SEVEN DEADLY SINS / ANNA (LUST) / L COLLIER / 5" (Handwriting; Ink)
Credit line
Given by Lesley Collier
Object history
The costume was designed by Ian Spurling for Anna-Anna in the Lust sequence of Kenneth MacMillan's ballet "Seven Deadly Sins", produced by The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in July 1973. The costume was worn by Lesley Collier in the 1973/4 revival. Because of the number of quick changes the costumes were numbered on the labels to indicate the order in which they were worn.

"Seven Deadly Sins" was a revised version of the work originally made for Western Theatre Ballet in 1961. Ian Spurling's highly idiosyncratic designs were a feature of both versions, prefiguring the later revival of interest in Art Deco. His decorative, witty costumes, executed in bright colours including such then unfashionable shades as lime green and vermilion, were an acclaimed feature of the production. They are decorative, imaginative and characteristic of their time in making and fabrics.

The museum also owns designs for the 1961 version of the ballet.
Collection
Accession number
S.678-2001

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Record createdJanuary 17, 2002
Record URL
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