The Clangers, Bagpuss & Co.

19 March – 9 October 2016 FREE entry

In a new exhibition opening at the V&A 
Museum of Childhood next spring, the magical worlds of The Clangers and Bagpuss will be explored. Created by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, and filmed in a barn in rural Kent, these characters brought new life to children’s television. The Clangers, Bagpuss & Co will be the first major retrospective of Smallfilms – Firmin and Postgate’s influential and much-loved production company – and include films not seen for decades.

Oliver Postgate’s voice and Peter Firmin’s puppets and artwork are cornerstones of 20th century British culture and their quirky and inventive programmes shaped the childhood memories of millions. As well as telling the story of Bagpuss and The Clangers, the exhibition will go behind the scenes of some of their other creations: Pogles Wood, Noggin the Nog and Ivor the Engine.  

 From Watch with Mother in the 1960s to 21st century CBeebies, Smallfilm’s endearing characters and captivating imaginary worlds have been staples of children’s television across the globe. The Clangers returned to the small screen in 2015 and have been embraced by a new generation of fans.

Before the days of CGI, Smallfilms used detailed craftsmanship and bold ingenuity to create enchanting animations. Working in a barn and an adapted pigsty in rural Kent, the pair were able to maintain their creative independence and uniqueness of vision. The exhibition brings together the original puppets alongside archive footage, sets and storyboards, photos, scripts and filming equipment, all set in a playful recreation of Oliver and Peter’s film studio. Visitors will be able to see very early black and white versions of Ivor the Engine - not seen for 45 years!

Curator of the exhibition, Alice Sage, said: “We all hold a special place in our hearts for one or more of Smallfilms' creations. Beyond  marvellous, captivating stories, Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate’s work encouraged children to look at the world with curiosity. Oliver’s distinctive voice as narrator never spoke down to their young audience, and they weren’t afraid of dealing with complex ideas in a magical way.

The stories have stood the test of time. As well as looking at how these programmes were made, we also hope to capture the spirit of these timeless gems.”

Visitors will be able to see Oliver Postgate’s stop-motion film camera, adapted using a small motor and bits of Meccano, learn why Bagpuss changed from orange to pink, and find out what Major Clanger was really saying from original shooting scripts. They can also try their hand at animating the characters using current technology and learn to speak ‘Clanger’.

There will be a series of film screenings, events, animation discussions and family-friendly workshops to accompany the exhibition.