Spectacular theatre, musical costumes go on display

They are two of Hollywood’s most esteemed leading ladies and in a new exhibition of the world’s two greatest theatrical districts, costumes worn on stage by Helen Mirren and Judi Dench are on display. 

Celebrating London’s West End and New York’s Broadway, Curtain Up: Celebrating the Last 40 Years of Theatre in New York and London tells the story of the plays, musicals and productions that have won both an Olivier and a Tony Award. 

Helen Mirren’s performance as Queen Elizabeth II on Broadway’s The Audience imagined off-the-record conversations starting at the beginning of the Queen’s reign, during Winston Churchill’s tenure. 

The play premiered in 2013 in London’s West End before appearing on Broadway in 2015 with Mirren starring in both.

The gown Mirren wore as the Monarch was designed by six-time Tony Award-winning designer Bob Crowley. 

He told InStyle all of the costumes in the play were based on real clothes. 

“It is Queen Elizabeth who expresses her character through her appearance, not me,” he said.

“The Queen’s fashion looks have changed dramatically over the years. She has evolved a high fashion look from English couture fashion houses like Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies in the ’50s and ’60s to her preference for simple dresses and coats these days.”

Also on display is Judi Dench’s costume from Antony and Cleopatra.

She starred as Cleopatra to Anthony Hopkins’ Antony in Peter Hall’s 1987 National Theatre production which was met with critical acclaim. 

At the time, United Press International’s Gregory Jensen said she was “magnificent”.

“Her Egyptian queen is too old to rely on sexual magnetism alone. Instead she captivates by unpredictability, through moods switched faster than eyelash flicks. Her darting charmer gradually slows and darkens as the Roman coils tighten, and her death is infinitely moving.”

The Society of London Theatre and London’s Victoria and Albert Museum have partnered with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center to celebrate the coincidence of two anniversaries of the biggest awards for commercial theatre: 40 years of the Olivier Awards in London and 70 years of the Tonys in New York.

Curtain Up: Celebrating the Last 40 Years of Theatre in New York and London ends June 30. 

Do you remember when these two shone on stage?