Pirelli's Cart

I love this look for Pirelli's cart - something small, mobile. Perhaps Pirelli has a small seat to sit on the back, just enough for him to make his travels and sale his wares about town. 

Meat Pies & Razor Blades

As you can see from the picture above, there's a large number of tools a Barber would use at the time. During this period they worked as barbers, dentists and doctors. The case below is a beautiful jewelry case that has the richness I would love to see in Sweeney's barber kit. It has the appearance of a very pricey gift, something given to him by family or wife as he started out in his trade.

The meat pies above are just some options to consider. They range from 'pot pies' to small flat pastries. I love how the juice is running off the edge of the second pie. 

The Poor & Destitute of London

It's likely that the majority of the destitute population of London in the 1840's and '50's stemmed from a staggering population growth in the early 19th century. Between 1840 and 1850 alone, the population grew by 23%. This caused obvious distress on the city of London itself as housing grew scarce and private residences became more and more valuable leading to gross amounts of people living on the streets and in slums in poor hygienic condition. The poor of 19th century London lived in overcrowded areas where their main source of drinking water often came from the ditches running through the streets. Starvation and disease were both leading factors in the death tolls of the destitute. British cities suffered outbreaks of cholera in 1831-32 and in 1848-49. The overwhelming attitude of the wealthy of the era often regarded the poor as being in the place that God put them;

(ex: a hymn published in 1848 by Cecil Frances Alexander:

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them, high and lowly,
And order’d their estate )


However, it was in the later 19th century that groups of people began to realize the poor conditions in which people were living, and so started a more philanthropic era of London society. In addition to this, the workhouses to which people fell back on when they lost their jobs became more humane as the century progressed.

Urban Decay

Some images of urban decay. I like these images because they have very muted colors overall. Particularly the two 'theaters' that are covered in a fine white layer of dust. However, because of these muted tones, some things really pop out, such as the red chair or the woman in the red dress.

The Executioner's Block

Today I've been looking at some images of the executioners block at the Tower of London. I find it fascinating, the simplicity that surrounds the execution process. The last two images are of the original executioners block and the memorial that now stands in its place. Just some food for thought.

The Lights on Fleet Street

I'd love for the atmosphere of Fleet Street to be shrouded in gas light. Slightly tonally shifted from natural lighting, gas lighting should coat each person with a sickly pallor. Below are three images, the most iconic stolen from the Excorcist, which captured a similarly eery tone on film.

You can read about gas lighting in theater here: http://www.compulite.com/stagelight/html/history-4/history-4-text.html

The Poor & Destitute

The ensemble of our players will make up the poor, the beggar class. Through oppression, men, like the Judge and the Beadle, have forced others into this class, people like Benjamin Barker, Lucy, and Mrs. Lovett. 

These people should be a part of the 'unwashed masses.' Often as a part of their oppression they have been abused and imprisoned, their infirmities often stretch beyond tattered clothes, and include physical ailments.