These costumes from the V&A's Theatre & Performance collections have been photographed from 36 different angles, allowing us to look at them in '3D'. Use the controls on each page to zoom and rotate the costumes.
King Phillip costume by unknown designer for 'Don Carlos', 1950
The costume made for the great bass singer Boris Christoff as King Philip, is of the highest quality satin and velv…
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Widow Twankey costume by John Vicars for 'Aladdin', 1980
Pantomime gives the costume designer plenty of opportunity to devise absurd outfits for the comic characters. No pa…
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Viola costume by Norman Wilkinson for 'Twelfth Night', 1912
Harley Granville Barker's production of 'Twelfth Night' in 1912 helped revolutionise attitudes to Shakespearean pro…
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Mariuccia costume by Léon Bakst for 'The Good Humoured Ladies', 1917
18th-century women's costume was cumbersome, voluminous and restricting, characteristics that make it unsuitable fo…
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Prince Afron costume by Loudon Sainthill for 'Le Coq d'Or', 1954
For the 1954 production of this opera, designer Loudon Sainthill adopted a fantastic, decorative approach, reminisc…
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The Wife costume by Nicholas Georgiadis for 'The Invitation', 1960
Kenneth MacMillan's ballet 'The Invitation' is set in a pre-1914 unspecified country with a sultry, humid, climate.…
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Eliza costume by Cecil Beaton for 'My Fair Lady, 1958
Cecil Beaton's costume designs for 'My Fair Lady' added immeasurably to the success of Lerner and Lowe's musical bo…
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Flower Girl costume by Sophie Fedorovitch for 'Nocturne, 1944
Designer Sophie Fedorovitch was a mistress of understatement. Her costumes contained sufficient information to indi…
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Pluto costume by Gerald Scarfe for 'Orpheus in the Underworld', 1985
Gerald Scarfe is best-known as a savagely brilliant cartoonist, but he has designed several theatrical productions …
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Patty costume by Wilhelm for 'The Pretty Prentice', 1916
This costume for the character of Patty was designed for a production of 'The Pretty Prentice' ballet by Adeline Ge…
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Vendice costume by Christopher Morley for 'The Revenger's Tragedy', 1966
The production of The Revenger’s Tragedy in 1966, for which this costume was made, ensured Trevor Nunn’s job at the…
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Huntswoman costume by Lila de Nobili for 'Sleeping Beauty', 1968
This costume was designed Lila de Nobili for The Royal Ballet in 1968, an unenviable task following Oliver Messel's…
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Clara Zachanassian costume by Rae Smith for 'The Visit', about 1991
This costume was designed by Rae Smith and made by theatrical costumier Wendy Harrison. It was worn by Kathryn Hunt…
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Fairy costume by Philip Prowse for 'The Wooden Prince', 1981
The Wooden Prince, a dancing-play in one act, was inspired by Bartók's interest in folk music and folk lore. The co…
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Room 105: Costume
This section features costumes worn on stage by leading actors such as Richard Burton as Henry V and Laurence Olivier in Oedipus Rex, musical performers including Jimmy Page and Brian Eno, the red dress and hat designed by Christian Dior for Vivien Leigh, a tutu worn by Margot Fonteyn and an Ossie Clark jump suit worn by Mick Jagger.
Dance in popular theatre
A brief history of dance in popular theatre from the 17th century, through music hall, the development of ballet, skirt dancing and the Tiller Girls.
'The Importance of Being Earnest': Costume design
At the time of the first production of 'The Importance of Being Earnest' in 1895, society drama at fashionable theatres mirrored its audience. In the 1895 production the costumes reflected the period and class of the characters.
Dianne Pilkington discusses costume changes for Glinda in Wicked
Dianne Pilkington discusses costume changes for Glinda in Wicked.
Private View: Theatre and Performance Galleries Opening
Short spot interviews with people attending the Theatre & Performance Private View
Donate to the Stained Glass Appeal
We are currently working on an exciting project to conserve and re-install the original stained glass on the landings of the Manfred and Lydia Gorvy Lecture Theatre. We need your help to raise £75,000 to bring these historical features back to their former glory for us all to enjoy.
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Costume design for Anna Pavlova (Custom print)
Costume design for Anna Pavlova in Oriental Fantasy by Leon Bakst (A4 Satin print)
Buy nowEvent - Theatre & Performance Galleries Tour
Fri 19 February 2010–Mon 31 December 2012
TOUR: Take a guided tour of the V&A's exciting theatre and performance collections, including rock & pop posters, theatre and ballet costumes, puppets, stage sets and more! See new costumes from the Lion King now on display.
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