The free exhibition of original costumes from the film, as worn by stars Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe among many others, will be on display in the Barbican Centre, Level G foyer from the 11th of December 2023 to the19th of January 2024.
I recently caught up with the lovely Holly Waddington to conduct a brief interview which will be published in Flaunt Magazine’s 25th anniversary print edition. We chatted about the infamous “yellow condom coat” which Emma Stone wears out in the snow, as well as the influences of her clothing for the Yorgos Lanthimos film. Let’s just say that they involve 1930’s lingerie,Ya modern Victorian take and those pretty, pointy, iconically 60’s booties that Courrèges made famous.
Check out the slide show below.
Based on the acclaimed novel by Alasdair Gray and brought to the screen by the award-winning director of The Favourite and The Lobster, Poor Things is the tale of the fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (played phenomenally by Emma Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist, Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) whom Bella calls “God.”
Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, she runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick, tad sleazy and debauched lawyer. They end up on a whirlwind adventure across the continents, where Bella, free from the prejudices of her times, grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.
Holly Waddington who also curated the upcoming exhibition, had this to say about it: “I'm delighted that these costumes are going to be on display in this great iconic building. I've always been a huge fan of the Barbican — its thrilling architecture and all of the wonderful things that go on here. I’m excited for visitors to the Barbican to be able to see these costumes up close.”
Gali Gold, Barbican’s Head of Cinema said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Searchlight Pictures to celebrate the cinema release of the magnificent Poor Things. We are always looking for new ways to engage our audiences in the transformative power of film and it’s a huge privilege to be able to showcase Holly Waddington’s extraordinary talent with these daring and irresistible costumes, which really bring the film to life. We’re also delighted to be able to offer our audiences exclusive previews of the film, which is already hailed as a masterpiece.”
In addition to the costume display, the Barbican will host two exclusive previews of Poor Things in Cinemas 2 and 3, hosted by Campari, official drinks sponsor for Barbican ScreenTalks, as part of a gala screening event taking place in Cinema 1 on December 14th. The film will be screened across Barbican cinemas during its UK release.
The Barbican is a catalyst for creativity, sparking possibilities for artists, audiences, and communities. They showcase the most exciting art from around the world, pushing traditional artistic boundaries to entertain and inspire millions of people, create connections, provoke debate, and reflect the world we live in.
The Barbican is an international arts and events centre rooted firmly in its neighbourhood, collaborating with local communities and putting the City of London on the map as a destination for everybody. Central to their purpose is supporting emerging talent and shaping opportunities that will accelerate the next generation of creatives.
As a not-for-profit, the organization relies on the generosity of individuals and organisations, including principal funder, the City of London Corporation. Every ticket purchased, donation made, and pound earned supports the arts and their learning program and enables the widest possible range of people to experience the joy of the arts.
Poor Things will be released in UK and Irish cinemas on the 12th of January, 2024.
Certificate: 18 TBC | Running Time: 141 mins
Mon 11 Dec 2023 – Thu 17 Jan 2024
Barbican Centre, Level G foyer
Silk St, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS
POOR THINGS Exclusive Preview Screenings
Thu 14 Dec, 7.40pm + 7.50pm
Barbican Cinemas 2 and 3
Beech Street, London, EC2Y 8DS
Box office: www.barbican.org.uk
Tickets:
Standard £15
Members: £12
Young Barbican: £5
Concessions & Discounts: £14
All images courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, used with permission.