Not currently on display at the V&A

Benedick

Theatre Costume
1950 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This wig was worn by Sir John Gielgud as Benedick in William Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing, performed at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 1950.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBenedick (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Human hair on netting
Brief description
Wig worn by John Gielgud as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, 1950
Physical description
Wig made from brown-red human hair on a mesh cap. The hairs have been individually knotted on to the netting. The cap is made from three different types of mesh: a soft caul net covering the crown of the head; a hard vegetable net around the circumference of the head, designed to keep the shape of the wig; and a nylon net for the hairline and the front of the wig. The vegetable net has been relined at some point.
Dimensions
  • Circumference: 55.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
"Sir John Gielgud 22 3/4" "Wig Creations Ltd 6809"
Credit line
Given by Wig Creations
Subject depicted
Association
Literary referenceMuch Ado About Nothing
Summary
This wig was worn by Sir John Gielgud as Benedick in William Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing, performed at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 1950.
Collection
Accession number
S.645-1990

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Record createdAugust 4, 2004
Record URL
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