Souvenir
1933 (made)
This cut-out figure is a souvenir of John Gielgud (1904-2000) in the title role of Richard of Bordeaux by Gordon Davuiot, which opened at London’s New Theatre 2 February 1933, with Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies as his queen. It was created as a pair with a similar figure of Gwen as the Queen.The reviews for Gielgud were ecstatic; it was a sell-out, and made him a star. He was besieged by giggling fans and received white harts – the emblem of Richard II - in every shape and form, embroidered on handkerchiefs, stamped on cigarette-boxes.
The mediaeval costumes proved inspirational.The Sketch devoted a page to a photoshoot of puppets dressed as Gielgud and Ffrangcon-Davies and manipulated into poses from the play, and also produced a faux-medieval fashion spread with Ffrangcon-Davies modelling the two-horned headdress. The play ran for more than 14 months, including a regional tour. After the last performance in a theatre in Golders Green, the police had to be called to keep back the crowd who surged against the stage door.
The mediaeval costumes proved inspirational.The Sketch devoted a page to a photoshoot of puppets dressed as Gielgud and Ffrangcon-Davies and manipulated into poses from the play, and also produced a faux-medieval fashion spread with Ffrangcon-Davies modelling the two-horned headdress. The play ran for more than 14 months, including a regional tour. After the last performance in a theatre in Golders Green, the police had to be called to keep back the crowd who surged against the stage door.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Painted plywood, wood and card |
| Brief description | Souvenir in the shape of a large toy theatre figure of John Gielgud (1904-2000) in the title role of Richard of Bordeaux by Gordon Daviot, New Theatre, 1933. |
| Physical description | Painted plywood souvenir or large toy theatre figure of John Gielgud as Richard of Bordeaux. He wears a chain-mail hood, a dark grey floor-length robe with a black floor-length cloak, and a large buckled leather belt into which a dagger is tucked. He has a small goatee beard and is wearing one silver gauntlet on his left hand, which holds the other gauntlet |
| Object history | Richard of Bordeauxopened at the New Theatre, 2 February 1933. It was written by the author and playwright Elizabeth MacKintosh (1896-1952) who wrote historical novels as Josephine Tey and called herself Gordon Daviot as a dramatist |
| Summary | This cut-out figure is a souvenir of John Gielgud (1904-2000) in the title role of Richard of Bordeaux by Gordon Davuiot, which opened at London’s New Theatre 2 February 1933, with Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies as his queen. It was created as a pair with a similar figure of Gwen as the Queen.The reviews for Gielgud were ecstatic; it was a sell-out, and made him a star. He was besieged by giggling fans and received white harts – the emblem of Richard II - in every shape and form, embroidered on handkerchiefs, stamped on cigarette-boxes. The mediaeval costumes proved inspirational.The Sketch devoted a page to a photoshoot of puppets dressed as Gielgud and Ffrangcon-Davies and manipulated into poses from the play, and also produced a faux-medieval fashion spread with Ffrangcon-Davies modelling the two-horned headdress. The play ran for more than 14 months, including a regional tour. After the last performance in a theatre in Golders Green, the police had to be called to keep back the crowd who surged against the stage door. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.399-2001 |
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| Record created | July 23, 2004 |
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