The Hundred and One Dalmatians - Mock Design Images, 2006
Title
The Hundred and One Dalmatians - Mock Design Images, 2006
Date
1 April 2006
Description
Two mock costume design images for The Hundred and One Dalmatians, created by show designer Lindsey Bradford as an April Fool's Day joke to the acting company.
What's the story?
Telling of a kidnapping of a family of dalmatian dogs by the evil Cruella de Vil, The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith was first published in 1956 and became an instant classic.
On the 50th anniversary of its publication, the Royal Company, the Theatre Royal’s community theatre initiative, produced the stage adaptation by Glyn Robbins.
The production was directed by David Longford, the Theatre Royal’s Learning Manager and designed by Lindsey Bradford.
As well as a large-scale community cast of adults and children, playing a variety of dogs and their human ‘owners’, the production starred well-known actor and singer Toyah Willcox as Cruella de Vil. Toyah not only brought some box office kudos to the show, but also created an additional learning component, by enabling the community cast members to work alongside an experienced professional actor.
Working closely together, David Longford and Lindsey Bradford did not want the actors playing the dogs to be simply wearing big furry heads and costumes. Retaining the late 50s/early 60s aesthetic from the book’s original publication date, the dog’s costumes would be human-like, but with canine features, e.g. ears on hats, a dalmatian spotted suit etc. The actor would still be very visible in their role.
In explaining this design concept at the first rehearsal, which just happened to be on April Fool’s Day, Lindsey Bradford presented the company with these two designs for Pongo and Missis Pongo, the two central Dalmatians.
David Longford explained that they did not want big dog outfits, but instead wanted to focus on the core of the performance and so clothes in this instance would be a hindrance. Hence, this stripped-down costume, with just token spotted Dalmatian underwear to protect modesty. It was a family show after all.
The company will always deny that they fell for this joke. The director and designer know the truth.
The final and real costume designs can be seen in The Hundred and One Dalmatians production photographs, in the related link below.
On the 50th anniversary of its publication, the Royal Company, the Theatre Royal’s community theatre initiative, produced the stage adaptation by Glyn Robbins.
The production was directed by David Longford, the Theatre Royal’s Learning Manager and designed by Lindsey Bradford.
As well as a large-scale community cast of adults and children, playing a variety of dogs and their human ‘owners’, the production starred well-known actor and singer Toyah Willcox as Cruella de Vil. Toyah not only brought some box office kudos to the show, but also created an additional learning component, by enabling the community cast members to work alongside an experienced professional actor.
Working closely together, David Longford and Lindsey Bradford did not want the actors playing the dogs to be simply wearing big furry heads and costumes. Retaining the late 50s/early 60s aesthetic from the book’s original publication date, the dog’s costumes would be human-like, but with canine features, e.g. ears on hats, a dalmatian spotted suit etc. The actor would still be very visible in their role.
In explaining this design concept at the first rehearsal, which just happened to be on April Fool’s Day, Lindsey Bradford presented the company with these two designs for Pongo and Missis Pongo, the two central Dalmatians.
David Longford explained that they did not want big dog outfits, but instead wanted to focus on the core of the performance and so clothes in this instance would be a hindrance. Hence, this stripped-down costume, with just token spotted Dalmatian underwear to protect modesty. It was a family show after all.
The company will always deny that they fell for this joke. The director and designer know the truth.
The final and real costume designs can be seen in The Hundred and One Dalmatians production photographs, in the related link below.
Type
Design image
Location of item
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Rights
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham
Contributor
Researcher: David Longford
