This exhibition explores the career of television costume designer, Joyce Hawkins, who worked at the BBC in Birmingham from 1958-1988. Using previous unseen artefacts from her personal collection, it tells the story of television production in Birmingham from the 1950s-1980s and illustrates the importance of costume to the televisual aesthetic.

The central focus of the exhibition is the beautifully illustrated costume designs created by Joyce. Alongside the designs, many for television dramas produced by the BBC in Birmingham, are production photographs of the costumes being worn. Featured productions include the 1985 serial, Anna of the Five Towns adapted from Arnold Bennett’s novel, and the 1987 production of Vanity Fair, adapted from William Makepeace Thackeray’s novel, for which Joyce was nominated for a BAFTA. Several designs from the 1977, Doctor Who episode, Horror of Fang Rock are also included.

Other items on display are designs for Kate Bush, for a BBC1 Special in 1979, including the bat costume design she liked so much she wore it for one of her album covers.

Through other documents in Joyce’s collection, we learn what the job of a costume designer involved. Included are, order pads for the costumes of stars like Michael Caine and Judi Dench, who featured in BBC Birmingham dramas in the 1960s, and we discover how important continuity was, including the meticulous notes required to avoid errors.

There will even be a couple of actual costumes from the 1970s and 1980s on display including one from Anna of the Five Towns. Also featured will be King Penda’s crown from the 1974 Play for Today, Penda’s Fen, which Joyce made on her kitchen table from cardboard and beer bottle tops.