Laughing Matters: The State of a Nation

Thoughtful small exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum on the role of humour in debates around identity, empire and power over the past two hundred years.

It asked the question “What is Britishness?” and asked how laughing at something demonstrates specific tastes and belonging. It was gently themed under the headings Cruel Britannia, Allies and Enemies, Rulers and Regulators and Country Files.

It could have been quite a heavy show but there were some great objects which made you laugh and think. You have to smile at a Dame Edna Everage costume of a fry up! It was also fun to see Manuel’s costume from “Fawlty Towers” and a Splitting Image puppet of Margaret Thatcher. These were shown with fun clips from film and television.

Closes 23 December 2024


 

 

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