Please call ahead before you visit as some locations are not open on weekends or on certain days.

Costume hire

Prangsta 304 New Cross Rd, SE14 (020) 8694 9869 New Cross Gate tube

UPDATE: We are proud to announce that Prangsta is our preferred costume rental company. If you’re going to a White Mischief party and can quote White Mischief you will gain a 20% discount from Prangsta – and read our full article about Prangsta first!

Leading costumier to the vaudeville scene, with an exquisite eye for turning discarded clothes into sumptuous outfits from all eras. Melanie from Prangsta has already kitted a out a few Mischief Makers in superlative Victorian/Steampunk garb and is guaranteed to find the perfect combination of costume and accessories to make your fantasy a reality. Check out the gallery for a few examples of Prangsta’s stunning work.

National Theatre Costume Hire Store 1-3 Brixton Rd, SW9 [directions] (020) 7735 4774 Oval tube

In terms of sheer scale it’s hard to beat the NT, which holds an archive of costumes from productions gone by. Peasants, 18th century ladies, animal costumes, knights, Classical masks… even the entire cast of Wind in the Willows is to be found here. The NT will let you return as often as you like to try on different combinations, then there’s a fee for the costume as a whole, which can be hired for a week.

The Costume Studio 159 Balls Pond Road, N1 (020) 7923 9472 Dalston train

Aiming itself towards the film and TV industry, the Costume Studio nonetheless does supply outfits to members of the public, and the results are impressive if a little on the expensive side.

Angels 119 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (020) 7836 5678 Leicester Square tube

Originally a film costumier, Angels has hit the headlines auctioning off items like cloaks from the original Star Wars films. They sell costumes from their website, but Angels’ West End branch is the place to go for your high-end, fancy dress fix.

Mad World 69-85 Tabernacle St, EC2 (0800) 783 6582 Old Street tube

More a conventional fancy dress location, but fairly well-stocked with Victorian and Edwardian looks, plus it’s the favoured fancy dress outlet of the Hoxton massive.

Craftspersons specialising in steampunk and neo-Victoriana

Amanda Scrivener and Thomas Willeford

Amanda Scrivener is a clothing and jewellery designer whose work defies easy definition. After attending two art colleges to study textiles, jewellery design and jewellery production, Amanda’s work became inspired by the shadowy side of Victorian England. As her creator persona, Professor Maelstromme, she crafts items in her laboratory which will bring to mind romance by gaslight, arcane science, the steam age, carnival sideshow curios and aged materials from the tombs of Victorian England.

Amanda is engaged to Thomas Willeford of Brute Force Studios, who is famous in his own right for his abilities as a corset maker, leather worker,  and creator of infernal devices. Creations from both artists are available from Thomas’s website www.bruteforcestudios.com. and Amanda’s Esty site ProfMaelstromme.etsy.com

Firecat Masquerade contact dom.flannelcat@gmail.com

A collective of artists led by Dominic Flannelcat who alongside performance also create beautiful bespoke masks and steampunk goggles. The steampunk goggles take around a fortnight to create, but White Mischief fans who get in touch in time can benefit from a £5 discount on the goggles.

Shops offering both retail and hire

Blackout II 51 Endell Street WC2 (020) 7240 5006 Covent Garden, Tottenham Court Rd tubes

A Covent Garden staple, Blackout is small but crammed with period treasures (far more for ladies than for gentlemen, unfortunately) – note that Blackout also rents as well as sells.

Modern Age 65 Chalk Farm NW1 (020) 7482 3787

Selling and renting vintage clothing, Modern Age specialises in 40s and 50s looks and has an impressive range of menswear.
Second hand, retro and vintage retail

Beyond Retro 110 Cheshire Street, E2 (020) 7836 5678 Whitechapel or Liverpool Street tubes; or 58 Great Marlborough Street W1 (020) 7434 1406 Oxford St or Tottenham Court Road tubes

Vintage emporium Beyond Retro’s flagship East London warehouse is a feast of second-hand clothes from the conventional (and affordable) to the wild and daring, plus a ton of accessories from hats to sunglasses. There’s a smaller offshoot in the centre of London.

Radio Days 87 Lower Marsh SE1 (020) 7928 0900 Waterloo tube

Unusually, Radio Days has a remarkable collection of vintage menswear as well as the expected Aladdin’s Cave of ladies’ retro items. Plus vintage furniture, magazines and more: a real gem.

What The Butler Wore 131 Lower Marsh Terrace SE1 (020) 7261 1353 Waterloo tube

Once you’re done with Radio Days, pop in to What The Butler Wore. No butler suits here and only a handful of mens’ shirts/jumpers. But a fair selection of more recent vintage for women.

Alfie’s Antique Market 13-25 Church Street, NW8 [directions] (02o) 7223 6066

Take a visit to Alfie’s for several exceptional retailers of vintage clothes par excellence (with a strong leaning towards ladies’ clothes – gentlemen will find some items but not a great deal.) There are some very expensive things at Alfie’s but it can be a good place to pick up inspiration. Outfitters we recommend at Alfies are:

The Girl Can’t Help It

Biba Lives

Heaven of Gowns

Tin Tin Collectables

Persiflage (Stand S006-008)

Kingly Court – Carnaby Street W1 Oxford Circus tube

Formerly a series of office spaces, Kingly Court (off Carnaby Street) now bustles with fashion retailers including a surprising number of amazing shops specialising in vintage and high-end, burlesque-influenced clothing. We recommend:

Twinkled

Black Pearl

Marshmallow Mountain

Stromboli’s Circus

Fur Coat, No Knickers – 07815 051 250 / 07814 002 295

Camden and Chalk Farm NW1 Camden / Chalk Farm tubes

Black Cotton Vintage Arch 50 Stables Market

Run by the lovely El Nino and Lady Kamikaze who have DJd at White Mischief and run their own brilliant Lady Luck and Black Cotton clubs, there’s nowhere that understands the vintage scene quite like Black Cotton Vintage. As well as clothing there is some extremely fine furniture – perfect to kit out your retro lifestyle.

Retro World Arch 54 Stables Market

Also visit Modern Times Vintage in Chalk Farm

Vintage Modes 1-7 Davies Mews W1 (020) 7409 0400 Bond St tube

Extremely expensive but opulent ladies’ vintage shop that has been used by the filmmakers behind “Memoirs of a Geisha”, “Mrs Henderson Presents” and various Agatha Christie dramas.

Appleby Vintage 95 Westbourne Park Villas, W2 (020) 7229 7772 Notting Hill tube

Small but with a few examples of truly astonishing, almost antique 1920s-1950s vintage for men and women.

Pop Boutique 6 Monmouth Street WC2 (020) 7497 5262 Covent Garden / Tottenham Court Rd tubes

Not so much really ancient stuff, but it’s reasonable value for money and slap bang in the middle of Covent Garden. They also supply vintage to Top Shop!

Absolute Vintage 15 Hanbury Street E1 (020) 7247 3883 Liverpool Street tube

Great for the ladies, not so good for the gentlemen, Absolute Vintage stocks huge amounts of accessories and a good range of secondhand clothes from the 20th century.

Oxfam Boutique 245 Westbourne Grove, London W11

Arguably the most expensive charity shop in the country, the Oxfam Boutique has been built in conjunction with ex-Top Shop designers and features the high end of their haul.

Retro Man, Retro Man 2, Retro Woman, Retro Woman 2 Pembridge Road, London W11, Notting Hill tube

From the people who brought you the Notting Hill Music Exchange come these four retro clothing outfitters, particularly well-stocked with more recent designer clothes.

TRAID 61 Westbourne Grove, London W2 4UA (020) 7221 2421

Recycled clothing organisation that offers a few bits of vintage in this particular outlet.

Old Hat 43a and 66 Fulham High Street SW6 (020) 7610 6558 Putney Bridge tube

Run by English eccentric David Saxby, “sartorial agony uncle” to The Chap, who promises “Savile Row elegance for Skid Row credentials”. Menswear only, but one of the very few places in London to specialise in vintage menswear and formalwear.

Dolly Diamond 51 Pembridge Road W11 (020) 7792 2479 Ladbroke Grove tube

No website that we can find, but worth a detour if you’re in the Notting Hill area, for mens’ and womens’ vintage from the 20s through to the 70s.

Other, lingerie, accessories, millinery, historical & reproduction vintage

Christina Dettmers (020) 85791450 / (07523) 627323, info@historicalclothing.net, appointments on request and 10% discount for White Mischief customers

Christina Dettmers is a London-based costume designer, specializing in fashions from 1500 to 1920s, corsetry and accessories for ladies and gentlemen. She supplies faithfully reproduced period clothing meeting highest standards of authenticity, as well as  one-of-a-kind bespoke costumes inspired by the beauty of eras gone by. Appointments on request, period styling consultancy available.
website: http://www.historicalclothing.net
direct sales: http://nehelenia.etsy.com

FairyGothMother / Lulu and Lush 15 Lamb Street, Spitalfield, E1 (020) 7377 0370 Liverpool Street tube;

With two Central London stores and an extensive online catalogue, FairyGothMother are one of the world’s most famous and largest retailers of steel boned corsets. Their expansive range, showcased in their opulent boutique in iconic Old Spitalfields Market, ranges from basic corsets for beginners to specialist and bespoke garments for more experienced tightlacers, and offers everything you could possibly need to create your perfect outfit, from Burlesque chic to Gothic ballgowns, lingerie and eveningwear. Read our article about Lulu and Lush

Bordello 55 Gt Eastern St, EC2A (020) 7503 3334 .Old St, Liverpool St tubes

The new Shoreditch destination boutique for sex appeal with a retro twist, celebrating the glamour of a bygone era. A treasure trove of modern corsetry and lingerie with vintage nylons, hats, gloves, bags and accessories. Read for information on 10% discount on Bordello for White Mischief partygoers.

What Katie Did 28 Portobello Green, 281 Portobello Road, London W10 5TZ. 0845 430 8943. Ladbroke Grove tube.

Lingerie, corsetry and hosiery with retro and burlesque overtones. As well as the London flagship store they have a very comprehensive online store.

The Vintage Shirt Company East Sussex 01273 471586

Men’s shirts and Accessories from 1700 to Present Day

Nehelenia London 020 8579 1450

Specialising in fashions from 1500 to 1920s, period bridal gowns, corsetry and accessories, supplying the finest historical garments for reenactors, film productions, weddings, museums, theatres and private individuals.

Old Town

Reproduction vintage mens and womenswear produced in Norfolk.

Pixxi

Offering “High Quality True Vintage and Vintage Inspired Lingerie and all Boudoir Accessories”, Pixxi embraces the essence of romance with quintessential retro lingerie and glamour for that vintage silhouette! Aimed at aspiring Lana Turners and Hollywood goddesses through to cherry pop kittens and voluptuous vixens, Pixxi provides a range of vintage and new-vintage corsets, slips and gowns, stockings, evening bags, corsages, burlesque and pin-up accessories, dressing table gifts, and limited edition fashion and jewelry pieces. Pixxi will soon open its ‘Appointment only salon’ in Brighton.

Vivien of Holloway The Arches, 49 Kentish Town Road, NW1 (020) 7284 2074 Camden Town tube

Hidden away above a motorbike garage, which turns out to be very fitting as Vivien of Holloway has a great line in repro 40s and 50s ladies’ look with a rock’n'roll edge.

Sophie Jonas Designs Brook House Studios, Bluebridge Road, Brookmans Park, Hertfordshire AL9 7SX (01707) 656531

Jewellery and costume gowns – including some costume gowns for men as well as bespoke items – inspired by historical clothing and burlesque.

Darling Doe

Bespoke handmade masks crafted out of high quality recycled materials and a million miles away from the usual disguise.

UglyLovely (07891) 041378

A millinery label for men and women, describing itself as “elegance in the unconventional.” The ladieswear is designed with all social occasions in mind, recalling a time when hats were worn free from their current margilisation as formal attire. The menswear flatcap collection is designed to be versatile; the same cap can be worn in the garden before donning one’s finest silk cravat and dashing into town.

Tricia Cox (TC Top Hats and Tricia Cox Millinery). 07970 95497

Millinery specialist. Vintage reproductions from 1940s and 1950s hat patterns, plus restoration of vintage hats.

Sugarlesque

From our friends at Dr Sketchy London comes Sugarlesque, a small business selling hand-made lingerie, pasties, bows, tassels, garters and giant ostrich feather fans.

Ma Mignonnette
Purveyors of the finest magical weaponry. Vintage-inspired lingerie of love and enchantment, for the sweet seductress in us all…

Frillseekers Vintage – A roving vintage boutique specialising in womenswear from the ’40s to the ’80s (with the occasional earlier treasure). Based in East London, but they go wherever vintage lovers need them.

Hair / makeup / styling

Pimps and Pinups 14 Lamb St, Spitalfields E1 (020) 7426 2121 Liverpool St tube

With an amazing 1950s-styled neon interior, Pimps and Pinups does conventional haircuts as well as setting hair in retro styles. In the same trip be sure to visit FairyGothMother / Lulu and Lush which is next door.

Nina’s Vintage and Retro Hair Parlour 13 Church Street, 1st Floor, Alfie’s Antique Market, London, NW8 8DT (07871) 560526. Marylebone tube. (New address from start of June 08)

Vintage hair expert who has consulted for film and TV and provides hair styling to our friends at Whoopee

Dappa Hair Boutique 53 Chalk Farm Road, Camden, London NW1 8AN (020) 7482 1833 Chalk Farm tube

Combining a vintage clothes emporium witha hair boutique specialising in vintage looks.

Charles Fox 22 Tavistock St, WC2 (0780) 2000 369 Covent Garden tube

Long the stronghold of London’s luvvie types for all their greasepaint and wig needs, Charles Fox sells every kind of theatrical makeup plus accessories like eyelashes.

Kelly L Nash 07961 071670

A make up and hair stylist, Kelly provides professional hair and make-up to clients throughout London and within the M25. Kelly has over five years experience in the industry and has worked with various publications and celebrities, also including several music videos.

Photo credits include: Siberfi, Cory Doctorow, Andrew Smee, Ben Hopper.

If one of your photographs is used here and you would like crediting, or if you would like it removed, please contact us.

We’ve long recommended Prangsta in our extensive list of costumiers and vintage retailers. Now we’re proud to announce that Prangsta is White Mischief’s preferred rental costumier, offering a 20% discount for White Mischief fans.

We have yet to discover a costume rental company whose outfits are as sumptuous, nor have we found a shop who will spend so much time personalising an outfit to the customer’s precise needs. This isn’t fancy dress, this is make-believe on a grand scale.

Read on for more pictures, contacts and all the detail about the outfitters of your dreams…

Prangsta caters both to men and to women and if you’re going to a White Mischief show, quote our name to gain a 20% discount on your Prangsta costume rental. They have more than enough to fulfil your every neo-Victorian, steampunk or Belle Epoque fantasy, plus every kind of uniform and accessory you care to imagine.

Prangsta is at 304 New Cross Road, London SE14 6AF, 020 8694 9869, open Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm.

A theatre torn asunder, stripped of its contents ..fantasy books rifled through and faery forests pilfered of their scenery. The pirate seas ripped up and placed in massive mahogany chests of drawers. Prangsta grins, she has taken it all!!!

The scenery shimmers, not all is as it seems.
Prangsta is an open book, beloved of many a stylist
Prangsta is a creative coven, full of characters
Prangsta is a treasure trove, spilling with ideas
Prangsta is covered in gold and glitter, the SHOW WILL GO ON!

The doors open to reveal….

Shelves laden with top hats, walls aching with wanton show girl costumes, Venetian masks, pearly strands, debauched photographs, a ceiling laden with heavy chandeliers. Dickensian ensembles pinned high up on the walls. The mannequin throws your a sultry stare as you enter, she is garbed in molten silver beads, painted as a Harlequin clown, she spins a roulette wheel…

Who will you be tonight? A harlot? A vagabond? A pirate? An angel? A dandy? A clown? Oh, Mr Darcy there you are!!

Founded in 1998 by St Martin’s fashion graduate Melanie Wilson; ingenious and eccentric; Prangsta is a butterfly beating its wings against the spectral, slavish fashion industry.

Each piece in our fashion line is lovingly crafted. Prangsta recycles the remnants of vintage fabrics, stitching rags back together with a modern twist – turning them into resplendent costumes rich with detail and perfectly fitted.

Multi-faceted: as a Costumiers, as Independent Designers, as Interior Decorators, a Dressmaking Class, an Entertainment Agency, a Film and Video location and asPrangsta Boudoir: staged at many a festival and event including Bloomsbury Ballroom, La Rivoli, Secret Garden Party, Sunrise, Camp Bestival and Bestival.

Prangsta costumes are art pieces, the heritage of days when people paid to know the provenance of their clothes. Prangsta has a studio in Deptford where these chaotic dreams are actualised and a shop in New Cross.

304 New Cross Road
London
SE14 6AF

Please call Holly Jade on 020 8694 9869 to discuss ideas.

Tel: 020 8694 9869
Email: holly_jade@prangsta.co.uk
Web: www.prangsta.co.uk www.myspace.com/prangstacostumiers

Our March 27 third birthday extravaganza, “The Great Exhibition”, is based upon the wonders of Victorian science. Our compere is a pith-helmeted colonel; on stage a mad scientist will conduct bolts of lightning through a Tesla coil; in the lobby you’ll meet Hodman and Sally, explorers from Oblivia. Throughout the building there will be Victorian and steampunk works of art.

Be sure to read these relevant articles on our site:

• Steampunk clothing at White Mischief
• The neo-Victorian look
• How to get 20% off costumes from Prangsta
• Our guide to London’s best vintage, second-hand and costume suppliers

Here are some ideas for costumes:

• Steampunk
• Neo-Victorian
• Top hats / waistcoats / frock coats
• Bustles / corsets / dresses
• Explorers
• Scientists / Engineers
• Remarkable exhibits
• Discoveries from the Empire
• Zoological phenomena
• Dinosaurs
• Workers
• Prince Albert / Queen Victoria
• HG Wells / Jules Verne
• Businessmen, women and philanthropists

Looking for that particular accessory? For the perfect haircut? For a costume to rent? Or to buy some second-hand clothing? Be sure to read our guide to London’s best vintage, second-hand and costume suppliers.

With White Mischief so heavily inspired by Jules Verne (we’ve had shows entitled “From The Earth To The Moon”, “Journey To The Centre Of The Earth” and “Around The World In 80 Days”, the steampunk aesthetic is one of the dressing-up themes we encourage. (Line-up for June 7 show; details on tickets and group discounts.)

Check after the jump for a magnificent collection of images taken from the last White Mischief show… thank the photographers and congratulate the Mischief-Makers who dressed up in such formidable outfits. We recommend Prangsta as a place from which to hire your steampunk outfit, but our guide to London’s best vintage clothing emporiums and costume rental locations offers many more suggestions.

If you want to know more about steampunk, visit our pages of steampunk photos and steampunk videos. Steampunk is all about imagining the future as it might have been had the silicon chip never been invented. All the optimism of the Industrial Revolution, of the Victorian Empire, of the Age of Steam, propelling us around the world with magnificent steamships and airships, with our goggles polished and neo-Victorian uniforms worn by space pirates and sky captains. Read on to see how partygoers at the last White Mischief looked.

Credit: Siberfi Credit: Nicolle Carter

Credit: Alasdair Watson Credit: Alasdair Watson

Credit: Siberfi Credit: Wozza_efx2

Credit: Wozza_efx2 Credit: Wozza_efx2
Steampunk rayguns, pith helmets and goggles from Stentor Industries:

Remember that our dressup partner Prangsta offers a 20% discount for anyone quoting White Mischief.

We have also created this extensive list of costume, vintage, second-hand, hair and make-up providers which should help you make your dressup dreams come true.

Dressup inspirations for New Year’s Eve 1910

Read Wikipedia’s 1909 and 1910 timelines or the Guardian’s timelines for 1899-1909 and 1910-1919.

Imagine yourself into the era between 1909 and 1910. Work begins on building the mighty cross-Atlantic ship the Titanic. Louis Bleriot makes the first flight across the Channel in a monoplane. The first rugby football match at Twickenham is played. Edward VII dies and George V becomes King of the United Kingdom. Henry Ford sells 10,000 automobiles.

Ladies, check out this 1900-1910 fashion timeline and these Titanic fashions

Men, visit this 1910 formalwear guide

For our splendid dinner party and New Year’s Eve ball, we invite you to explore the formalwear of the time, or alternatively any vintagewear from 1900 to 1940:

• Ballgowns
• Fine dresses
• Hats
• Frock coats
• Top hats, canes
• Edwardiana
• Dinner jackets
• Black tie
• Formalwear
• Military wear
• Poor 1900s vagrants who have sneaked into the party!

Dressing up is not compulsory at White Mischief, but we strongly encourage it…

…especially at Halloween, arguably the costume and make-believe highpoint of the year!

To help you along on your creative journey, we have compiled this massive list of London’s best providers of vintagewear, second-hand clothes, make-up, hairstyling, costume rental and steampunk accessories: White Mischief’s recommended dress-up providers.

And White Mischief’s preferred costumier, Prangsta, is offering a massive 30% discount to anyone who quotes White Mischief when booking a fitting for one of their extravagant outfits.

To get an idea of what other people might come up with, take a look at the many photos from the Halloween party we threw last year, THE HOUSE OF THE SANDMAN:

Dressup inspirations for Le Chateau de Barbe-Bleue:

We recommend you read the original 1697 Charles Perrault story and take a look at the 1867 illustrations from Gustave Dore and the 1875 illustrations from Walter Crane.  Visual influence can also be drawn from the silent film Barbe Bleue by George Melies.  For Halloween this will be a dark interpretation, drawing upon the decaying ambers and browns of autumn as well, of course, as the deep red of the blood lake in Blue Beard’s chamber.

Suggestions:

• Blue Beard himself
• Anything blue at all
• Dripping with gold and jewellery – Blue Beard has given you the keys to all his riches
• Blue Beard’s seventh bride
• Blue Beard’s six wives, or any corpse bride
• Anything involving blood, invoking murder or a loss of virginity
• Guests at a sumptuous ball
• Lords and ladies from the Elizabethan through to Georgian eras
• Keepers of the castle, knights, guards, armourymen and treasury keepers
• Servants of the castle, cooks, maids
• Dashing knight brothers on horseback
• Locksmiths
• Barbers
• Any Halloween character or theme
• Any vintage theme

Remember to check out our recommended dress-up providers.

(Photo credit Tammy and Bella by Siberfi)

Find within the original Blue Beard story as written by Charles Perrault. If you would prefer to read a shorter version of the story, please check Barbe Bleue abbreviated.

To read more about our October 30 Hallowe’en spectacular “Le Chateau de Barbe-Bleue” or to book tickets,  click here.

The full Blue Beard story – as written by Charles Perrault

There was once a man who had fine houses, both in town and country, a deal of silver and gold plate, embroidered furniture, and coaches gilded all over with gold. But this man was so unlucky as to have a blue beard, which made him so frightfully ugly that all the women and girls ran away from him.

One of his neighbors, a lady of quality, had two daughters who were perfect beauties. He desired of her one of them in marriage, leaving to her choice which of the two she would bestow on him. Neither of them would have him, and they sent him backwards and forwards from one to the other, not being able to bear the thoughts of marrying a man who had a blue beard. Adding to their disgust and aversion was the fact that he already had been married to several wives, and nobody knew what had become of them.

Bluebeard, to engage their affection, took them, with their mother and three or four ladies of their acquaintance, with other young people of the neighborhood, to one of his country houses, where they stayed a whole week.

The time was filled with parties, hunting, fishing, dancing, mirth, and feasting. Nobody went to bed, but all passed the night in rallying and joking with each other. In short, everything succeeded so well that the youngest daughter began to think that the man’s beard was not so very blue after all, and that he was a mighty civil gentleman.

As soon as they returned home, the marriage was concluded. About a month afterwards, Bluebeard told his wife that he was obliged to take a country journey for six weeks at least, about affairs of very great consequence. He desired her to divert herself in his absence, to send for her friends and acquaintances, to take them into the country, if she pleased, and to make good cheer wherever she was.

“Here,” said he,” are the keys to the two great wardrobes, wherein I have my best furniture. These are to my silver and gold plate, which is not everyday in use. These open my strongboxes, which hold my money, both gold and silver; these my caskets of jewels. And this is the master key to all my apartments. But as for this little one here, it is the key to the closet at the end of the great hall on the ground floor. Open them all; go into each and every one of them, except that little closet, which I forbid you, and forbid it in such a manner that, if you happen to open it, you may expect my just anger and resentment.”

She promised to observe, very exactly, whatever he had ordered. Then he, after having embraced her, got into his coach and proceeded on his journey.

Her neighbors and good friends did not wait to be sent for by the newly married lady. They were impatient to see all the rich furniture of her house, and had not dared to come while her husband was there, because of his blue beard, which frightened them. They ran through all the rooms, closets, and wardrobes, which were all so fine and rich that they seemed to surpass one another.

After that, they went up into the two great rooms, which contained the best and richest furniture. They could not sufficiently admire the number and beauty of the tapestry, beds, couches, cabinets, stands, tables, and looking glasses, in which you might see yourself from head to foot; some of them were framed with glass, others with silver, plain and gilded, the finest and most magnificent that they had ever seen.

They ceased not to extol and envy the happiness of their friend, who in the meantime in no way diverted herself in looking upon all these rich things, because of the impatience she had to go and open the closet on the ground floor. She was so much pressed by her curiosity that, without considering that it was very uncivil for her to leave her company, she went down a little back staircase, and with such excessive haste that she nearly fell and broke her neck.

Having come to the closet door, she made a stop for some time, thinking about her husband’s orders, and considering what unhappiness might attend her if she was disobedient; but the temptation was so strong that she could not overcome it. She then took the little key, and opened it, trembling. At first she could not see anything plainly, because the windows were shut. After some moments she began to perceive that the floor was all covered over with clotted blood, on which lay the bodies of several dead women, ranged against the walls. (These were all the wives whom Bluebeard had married and murdered, one after another.) She thought she should have died for fear, and the key, which she, pulled out of the lock, fell out of her hand.

After having somewhat recovered her surprise, she picked up the key, locked the door, and went upstairs into her chamber to recover; but she could not, so much was she frightened. Having observed that the key to the closet was stained with blood, she tried two or three times to wipe it off; but the blood would not come out; in vain did she wash it, and even rub it with soap and sand. The blood still remained, for the key was magical and she could never make it quite clean; when the blood was gone off from one side, it came again on the other.

Bluebeard returned from his journey the same evening, saying that he had received letters upon the road, informing him that the affair he went about had concluded to his advantage. His wife did all she could to convince him that she was extremely happy about his speedy return.

The next morning he asked her for the keys, which she gave him, but with such a trembling hand that he easily guessed what had happened.

“What!” said he, “is not the key of my closet among the rest?”

“I must,” said she, “have left it upstairs upon the table.”

“Fail not,” said Bluebeard, “to bring it to me at once.”

After several goings backwards and forwards, she was forced to bring him the key. Bluebeard, having very attentively considered it, said to his wife, “Why is there blood on the key?”

“I do not know,” cried the poor woman, paler than death.

“You do not know!” replied Bluebeard. “I very well know. You went into the closet, did you not? Very well, madam; you shall go back, and take your place among the ladies you saw there.”

Upon this she threw herself at her husband’s feet, and begged his pardon with all the signs of a true repentance, vowing that she would never more be disobedient. She would have melted a rock, so beautiful and sorrowful was she; but Bluebeard had a heart harder than any rock!

“You must die, madam,” said he, “at once.”

“Since I must die,” answered she (looking upon him with her eyes all bathed in tears), “give me some little time to say my prayers.”

“I give you,” replied Bluebeard, “half a quarter of an hour, but not one moment more.”

When she was alone she called out to her sister, and said to her, “Sister Anne” (for that was her name), “go up, I beg you, to the top of the tower, and look if my brothers are not coming. They promised me that they would come today, and if you see them, give them a sign to make haste.”

Her sister Anne went up to the top of the tower, and the poor afflicted wife cried out from time to time, “Anne, sister Anne, do you see anyone coming?”

And sister Anne said, “I see nothing but a cloud of dust in the sun, and the green grass.”

In the meanwhile Bluebeard, holding a great saber in his hand, cried out as loud as he could bawl to his wife, “Come down instantly, or I shall come up to you.”

“One moment longer, if you please,” said his wife; and then she cried out very softly, “Anne, sister Anne, do you see anybody coming?”

And sister Anne answered, “I see nothing but a cloud of dust in the sun, and the green grass.”

“Come down quickly,” cried Bluebeard, “or I will come up to you.”

“I am coming,” answered his wife; and then she cried, “Anne, sister Anne, do you not see anyone coming?”

“I see,” replied sister Anne, “a great cloud of dust approaching us.”

“Are they my brothers?”

“Alas, no my dear sister, I see a flock of sheep.”

“Will you not come down?” cried Bluebeard.

“One moment longer,” said his wife, and then she cried out, “Anne, sister Anne, do you see nobody coming?”

“I see,” said she, “two horsemen, but they are still a great way off.”

“God be praised,” replied the poor wife joyfully. “They are my brothers. I will make them a sign, as well as I can for them to make haste.”

Then Bluebeard bawled out so loud that he made the whole house tremble. The distressed wife came down, and threw herself at his feet, all in tears, with her hair about her shoulders.

“This means nothing,” said Bluebeard. “You must die!” Then, taking hold of her hair with one hand, and lifting up the sword with the other, he prepared to strike off her head. The poor lady, turning about to him, and looking at him with dying eyes, desired him to afford her one little moment to recollect herself.

“No, no,” said he, “commend yourself to God,” and was just ready to strike.

At this very instant there was such a loud knocking at the gate that Bluebeard made a sudden stop. The gate was opened, and two horsemen entered. Drawing their swords, they ran directly to Bluebeard. He knew them to be his wife’s brothers, one a dragoon, the other a musketeer; so that he ran away immediately to save himself; but the two brothers pursued and overtook him before he could get to the steps of the porch. Then they ran their swords through his body and left him dead. The poor wife was almost as dead as her husband, and had not strength enough to rise and welcome her brothers.

Bluebeard had no heirs, and so his wife became mistress of all his estate. She made use of one part of it to marry her sister Anne to a young gentleman who had loved her a long while; another part to buy captains’ commissions for her brothers, and the rest to marry herself to a very worthy gentleman, who made her forget the ill time she had passed with Bluebeard.

If this story has interested you, take a look at some analysis from literary critics or the alternative version from the Bela Bartok opera.

To read more about our October 30 Hallowe’en spectacular “Le Chateau de Barbe-Bleue” or to book tickets,  click here.

THE CLOCKWORK QUARTET

Listen & book tickets at http://www.clockworkquartet.com

Thur 15th | Fri 16th | Sat 17th October
The Horse Hospital
Doors open at 7:30 for an 8pm start, £15, Book Here

“Tarnished, bittersweet music that conjures up Portishead” – The Guardian

Dearest Friends,

I take great pleasure in inviting you to the world premiere of my new show. A collection of songs and stories following the cursed paths of a clutch of troubled souls – with music and light relief provided by my infamous companions, The Clockwork Quartet.
- The Raconteuse

Discover The Horse Hospital transformed into a run down Victorian music hall, where you can enjoy a cup of tea, a glass of port, or something more potent, and refreshments crafted by the band chocolatier. Advanced booking recommended.

“The Clockwork Quartet is a Dresden Dolls-esque collective of 20-odd musicians, actors and cabaret performers who all play various bizarre and morbidly dark characters. Intrigued?” – NME

The Clockwork Quartet consists of a core quartet of guitar, bass banjo, violin and cello, with help from accordion, oboe, piccolo banjo, Stroh violin, musical saw, and the magnificent Steamdrone, as well as the percussive possibilities of clocks, metronomes, discarded mechanical parts and found objects. Members include two trained luthiers, a carpenter, a jeweller, a prop maker and sculptor, a chocolatier, and a doctor of zoology.

Listen & book tickets at http://www.clockworkquartet.com

Click below to view teaser e-flyer: