Pelham Puppet trio redressed as the burlesque strippers from Stephen Sondheim's musical Gypsy

These three puppets were a special commission request from my most fabulous patron and are individually styled to represent the three strippers in the 'You've got to have a gimmick' scene from the musical Gypsy. 

Multiple materials were used and there was extensive work done to the hair and re-painting the shoes. The bodices were stiffened, glittered buckram, corset laced onto the naturalistic, moulded Pelham body. The feet and faces were repainted or retouched depending on the character.

The stripper characters represent a balletic butterfly, a gladiatrix (complete with glittery, felt Roman helmet and pointy breast armour plate) and an electric-lit, starry night sky - who really lights up with small LED bulbs sewn into her costume. Everything is topped off with lots of feathers: chicken and marabou.

This project was great fun to do! I absolutely adore anything Sondheim and Gypsy really resonates with me. The three jaded strippers are fascinating characters and their number is hilarious - as well as having a sad tired edge in performance, which always makes you think. It certainly is an education for Louise who is shortly to become the famous burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee.

For another of my dancing trio of characters visit 

- Can-Can Dancers!

 

Created by Alexander Sanderson Designs

Pelham Puppet redressed as a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Girl

 This puppet was commissioned by a private patron and a Pelham Ballet Girl puppet was used as a base.

She is dressed in a full lace skirt and frilly under-petticoat, boned corset and blouse. Her hair has been fully restyled into a bouffant beehive trimmed by red and black roses and lace. Under her petticoats she wears lace pantalets and her moulded high-heeled shoes have been repainted into a Victorian boot style. Her face has been fully repainted with enamels to represent the stylistic skull design.

Created by Alexander Sanderson Designs

Four Pelham Puppets redressed as Aladdin characters - Jafar, the Sultan, Aladdin & Princess Jasmine

These four Aladdin characters were commissioned by a private patron. 

They include Aladdin, Jafar, the Sultan and Princess Jasmine. Their costumes were crafted mainly from crepe-backed satin and high grade felts and embellished with glass beads and resin jewels and feathers. Jafar and Jasmine's faces have been retouched with enamels and a long beard has been added to Jafar. All the feet have been repainted. Jasmine has completely restyled hair including a long, gold banded braid.  

Created by Alexander Sanderson Designs

Three Pelham Puppets redressed as Can-Can Dancers from the Moulin Rouge!

For more info and full sized pics 

-click here-

Created by Alexander Sanderson Designs

Pelham Puppet redressed as Cleopatra

A Pelham Puppet Ballet Girl Puppet redressed and styled as the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. 

Her gown is a pleated silver lame trimmed with diamante and glass bead trim. Her wig/hair has been fully restyled and capped with a beaded, poly-clay headdress.  Her face has been retouched and finished with glitter enamel paint to create the right 'cat-like' appearance.

Cleopatra is most famous for her appearances in Shakespeare's and George Bernard Shaw's plays about her life and the extravagant film versions staring Elizabeth Taylor and Vivien Leigh. The real Cleopatra (Cleopatra VII of Egypt) became the mistress of Roman emperor Julius Caesar - who helped her take the throne from her brother, who was then Pharaoh - followed by a disastrous love affair with Mark Antony. After failing to prevent a Roman invasion of Egypt she is reportedly said to have taken her own life with the poison bite of an asp.

This puppet was designed and completed for a private commission and fits within a regular Pelham Puppet box.

 

 

This puppet was a vintage Pelham Puppet Fairy. She was redressed, upon request, as Helena Bonham Carter playing the Red Queen/Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. The dress base is a thick, gold/burgundy duchesse satin and then heavily trimmed with hearts, red velvet ribbon and pearl drop trim. The face was fully painted in enamels to suit the character and a red wig was styled and then topped with a glittered crown. 

This design fitted into a regular Pelham Puppet box. It was commissioned as one of a pair - the other design being Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs Lovett from Sweeney Todd.

Pelham Puppet fairy redressed as Queen Marie Antoinette

 A Pelham Puppet redressed as

- Queen Marie Antoinette of France -

This puppet was a vintage Pelham Puppet 'Fairy' which was redressed as the tragic French Queen Marie Antoinette, who was tragically guillotined during the French Revolution.

To read more and view more pictures of this puppet... 

- click and visit it's page here -

Created by Alexander Sanderson Designs