Birmingham City University showcases iconic costume designs

Original costume designs for Kate Bush and Doctor Who are going on display at Birmingham City University (BCU) as the university celebrates one of TV’s most influential designers.

Costume Matters has opened at BCU’s Parkside Building, celebrating the work of Joyce Hawkins, who worked for the BBC as a senior costume designer from 1958 to 1988.

The exhibition includes a range of Joyce’s designs, including Doctor Who, Anna of the Five Towns and Vanity Fair, which earned her a BAFTA nomination.

Other items on display include designs for Kate Bush, created for a BBC1 special in 1979. These include the bat costume design, which the singer liked so much that she wore it for one of her album covers.

Dr Vanessa Jackson, Associate Professor at BCU, curated the exhibition. She described the exhibition as a chance to discover a “golden age of television”.

She said: “It’s been a real privilege to work with Joyce Hawkins and her family, to share items from her personal collection of designs and costume-related documents in the Costume Matters exhibition.

“The work of television costume is under-researched and often misunderstood, so bringing items including designs for stars like Kate Bush, from 1979, to greater prominence is an exciting opportunity.

“This is a chance to discuss how working in costume has changed from Joyce’s era, which is now often thought of as a golden age of television.”

Joyce died earlier this year, aged 95, but her work has continued to influence costumes across the screen.

Costume Matters is a free exhibition at the Parkside Building and will be open until Thursday 15 October.