The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum celebrates Dundee’s global influence in costume design
The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum is proud to present a spectacular new exhibition celebrating the artistry, imagination and global impact of costume designers with connections to Dundee.
Curtain Call: Costumes from Stage and Screen brings together a dazzling collection of costumes from film, television, theatre and opera, highlighting the extraordinary work of designers Jane Petrie, Ros Little, Alex Reid, and creatives who have collaborated with Dundee REP and Scottish Dance Theatre.
Running for nine months, the exhibition showcases Dundee's far-reaching influence in the world of costume design and celebrates the city's role as a birthplace and inspiration for creative talent.
Visitors can expect to see some of the most iconic screen and stage costumes of recent years, including:
- Claire Danes' dress fromThe Essex Serpent
- Queen Elizabeth's dress, worn by Claire Foy inThe Crown
- Meryl Streep's costume as Emmeline Pankhurst inSuffragette
- Costumes from the Royal Shakespeare Company's Othello, featuring Ben Kingsley and Niamh Cusack
- Helen Alderson's wedding dress fromAll Creatures Great and Small.
- Demelza's crimson dress fromPoldark
- Blackbeard's pirate costume fromBlackbeardandHorrible Histories.
Alongside these, visitors will discover a selection of costumes from Dundee REP Theatre's much-loved productions, includingOor WullieandThe Tay Bridge, as well as designs featured in performances by the Scottish Dance Theatre.
The exhibition will be enriched by a programme of events and creative activities, inviting audiences of all ages to explore the craft and storytelling power of costume design. The McManus hopes to inspire a new generation of young people in Dundee to consider careers in the creative industries.
Gareth Jackson-Hunt, Museum Service Manager said,
"Working with such amazing, creative and inspiring individuals who are from, worked or have been inspired by Dundee is such an honour.
Leading this show has allowed me to discover more about the talent that Dundee has to offer, such talent should be celebrated and used to inspire a new generation of young people as well and raising pride in our city.
I have been among the people who have left the cinema as the credits roll, not looking at the long list of people included in the making of a production. Some of these talented people are from Dundee and we should celebrate their creativity and achievements, I now wait until the end to recognise all those who have contributed.
This show brings together for the first time a number of costume designers who have connections with Dundee, from Dundee REP and Scottish Dance Theatre, where many of us have seen national and locally produced productions to National Operas, television and major motion films.
This exhibition shows how wide spread the impact that Dundee has had on the world as we have borrowed costume from all over the UK."
Anna Day, Head of Culture and Libraries said,
"Our mission at Leisure and Culture Dundee is to celebrate our city. The people, the ideas and the talent that has made this place so incredible to live and work in. I feel very lucky to be part of this story, of amazing costume designers who have dressed some of the biggest stars in the world in every artistic medium.
The show will be supported by a programme of events, talks and activities so there will be a chance to get involved with Curtain Call throughout the year.
Part of our initial idea was to encourage young people in the city to consider a creative career. This exhibition will show them that a stellar career is something they can have, working globally but with their hears remaining in Dundee."
Meet the Designers
Jane Petrie
A proud Dundonian, Jane Petrie has worked for over fifteen years as a leading costume designer. Jane studied at Wimbledon School of Art. Her film credits includeMoon,Fish Tank,Suffragette(starring Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep), andGeniuswith Nicole Kidman, Jude Law and Colin Firth.
Jane was nominated and won The Costume Designers Guild Award (2018) for Excellence in Period Television for The Crown along with winning a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Period Costume for The Crown (2018) and Nominated for the BAFTA TV Craft, Best Costume Design for The Crown (2018). Won the BAFTA TV Craft, Best Costume Design for The Essex Serpent (2023).
Ros Little
Based in London, but grew up in Newport-on-Tay, Ros Studies costume design at Edinburgh Collage of Art. Ros Little's extensive career spans television, film and theatre one of which was our very own Dundee REP. Her credits includeAll Creatures Great and Small,Poldark,Horrible Histories: The Movie,Next of Kin,The Thick of ItandAncient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire.
Ros works with Cosprop in London who have a vast collection of costume which can be called upon as inspiration and historic accuracy and also be used in productions.
Cosprop are currently celebrating 60 years in a special exhibition at the Fashon and Textile Museum, London.
Alex Reid
Hailing from Perth Alex studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and went on to teach in both Dundee and Angus. Alex Reid's career has encompassed theatre, opera and exhibition design. Early work included contributing on the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady. In the late 1960's Alex became the in house costume designer for Scottish Opera, his opera credits includeLa traviata,Cinderella,Lucia di Lammermoor, Mary Queen of ScotsandLa bohme, among others. Alex also taught in Liverpool which allowed him to work with the English National Opera and The Royal Shakespeare Company.
In 1985 Alex received two Tony Award nominations as Best Costume Designer: one for Cyrano de Bergerac and the other for Much Ado About Nothing.
Exhibition Partners and Loans
Costumes and designs have been loaned by several prestigious organisations, including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Royal Ballet and Opera, Scottish Opera, Cosprop, Jane Petrie, and private lenders.
Curtain Call: Costumes from Stage and Screen
The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery and Museum
Free to visit
Opens 7 February 2026, runs until 15 November 2026
Our model is wearing a costume designed by Jane Petrie for Leftbank Pictures' production of The Crown.
