{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O102753"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O102753/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CP2651/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CP2651/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CP2651","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CP2650","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CP2648","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CP2645","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O102753","accessionNumber":"S.1544-1984","objectType":"Theatre costume","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<i>Twang!</i> (a title sometimes given two or even three exclamation marks) was a comedy musical loosely based on the Robin Hood legend. On paper it had everything in its favour.  The composer, Lionel Bart, had already  had a major success with <i>Oliver!</i>, which was in its 6th year in  London when <i>Twang!</i> opened. The cast included Barbara Windsor and Bernard Bresslaw, well-known for their appearances in the popular <i>Carry On</i> films, and the director, Joan Littlewood, founder of Theatre Workshop, had recently brought her production of the anti-war musical, <i>Oh What a Lovely War</i>, to the West End.  Only the choice of designer was surprising. Though regarded as Britain's leading theatre designer in the mid-20th century, Oliver Messel's lavish, painterly style was beginning to fall out of favour in the 1960s, and he was associated with ballet and opera not with knockabout musicals.  \r\n\r\nAs it turned out, Messel was the one member of the production team to receive favourable reviews. After a troubled pre-London tour during which Joan Littlewood left the show, <i>Twang!</i> opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre and was savaged by the critics who found the plot poor, the script excruciatingly unfunny, and the acting flat.  Messel's designs were pronounced the night's real pleasure. He created an amusing fantasy world where characters like Maid Marian dressed in medieval costumes made from 1960s fabrics.","physicalDescription":"Headdress for Maid Marian worn by Toni Eden.  Fantasy medieval headdress.  Elaborate 'fillet' high at front, lower to sides, of 'flowers' and mounts, of lurex braids and set with pearls.  From either side from front to back rise 'templars', latticed with gold lurex braid, centred with smoked pearls.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Messel, Oliver","id":"A4929"},"association":{"text":"costume designers","id":"AAT163428"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Skillen, Hugh","id":"A13121"},"association":{"text":"costumier","id":"x30527"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Lurex","id":"x32839"},{"text":"braid","id":"AAT232186"},{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"},{"text":"beads","id":"x32809"},{"text":"artificial jewels","id":"x30522"}],"techniques":[{"text":"sewing","id":"AAT53658"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lurex, braid, metal, beads and artificial jewels","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Hats & headwear","id":"THES48943"},{"text":"Theatre costume","id":"THES268477"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2009CP2651","2009CP2650","2009CP2648","2009CP2645"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES343110"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Theatre costume","id":""}],[{"text":"Headdress","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1965","earliest":"1965-01-01","latest":"1965-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the estate of Hugh Skillen","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"16","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"26","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"22","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Headdress for Maid Marian worn by Toni Eden in Lionel Bart's musical <i>Twang</i>, Shaftesbury Theatre, London, December 1965.  The book for the show was by Harvey Orkin and Lionel Bart, and the music and lyrics were by Bart.  The production was directed by Burt Shevelove, and the musical numbers were staged by Paddy Stone.  The scenery and costumes were designed by Oliver Messel.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Headdress for Maid Marian, worn by Toni Eden in the musical <i>Twang!</i>, Shaftesbury Theatre, London, 1965.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.1544-1984"],"accessionNumberNum":"1544","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1984,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP2207","2019LT6279","2019LW4064"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-22","recordCreationDate":"2004-08-25","availableToBook":false}}