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Theatre Costume

1882 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Henry Irving (1838-1905) wore this costume as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Produced in 1882, this beautifully staged production helped to bring the play back into favour with theatre audiences. Irving and Ellen Terry (1847-1928), who played Beatrice, had one of their greatest successes in a production which stayed in their repertory of plays until 1895. The mixture of gentility, comedy and humanity that they brought to their roles appealed to a respectable Victorian theatre audience.

Irving became a professional actor in 1856, and learned his trade in regional theatres until 1866, when he came to London. He joined the Lyceum Theatre company under the management of H. L. Bateman in 1871, winning great acclaim that year for his psychologically developed characterisation of the guilt-ridden inn-keeper Mathias in Leopold Lewis’s melodrama The Bells. He took on the responsibilities of ‘actor-manager’ in 1878 when he assumed the management of the Lyceum, and remained there until 1902, enjoying star status with his leading lady Ellen Terry. Irving produced a diverse range of old and new plays at the Lyceum, including Shakespeare, historical drama, and literary adaptations. His tireless work to elevate the status of the theatrical profession was rewarded in 1895 when he became the first actor ever to receive a knighthood for services to the Theatre.

Irving specialised in spectacularly staged productions with large casts of performers. He commissioned designers and composers to create appropriate scenery, costume and incidental music, played by a full orchestra. Although electric lighting was available from the 1880s, Irving preferred the softer effects of gas, with lime light to focus attention at key points in the play. Irving toured complete productions outside London, taking the full company, scenery and costumes throughout the United Kingdom and across the United States and Canada. The development of the railway system made his the first generation able to achieve this level of touring productions.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 5 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Doublet
  • Theatre Costume
  • Breeches
  • Theatre Costume
  • Tights
  • Theatre Costume
  • Boot
  • Theatre Costume
  • Boot
  • Theatre Costume
Brief description
Theatrical ensemble of doublet, breeches, boots and tights, worn by Henry Irving as Benedick in 'Much Ado About Nothing', 1882.
Dimensions
  • Parts 4 & 5 length: 31cm
  • Parts 4 & 5 width: 9cm (Note: width of the sole )
  • Parts 4 & 5 width: 25cm (Note: width at the knee)
  • Parts 4 & 5 height: 66cm
  • Part 4 weight: 0.6kg
  • Part 5 weight: 66 cm
  • Parts 4 & 5 with their box (including other objects) weight: 4.3kg
  • Part 3 length: 138cm
  • Part 3 width: 45.5cm
  • Part 3 weight: 0.2kg
Meausured flat (as worn)
Credit line
Given by the Royal Shakespeare Company
Summary
Henry Irving (1838-1905) wore this costume as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Produced in 1882, this beautifully staged production helped to bring the play back into favour with theatre audiences. Irving and Ellen Terry (1847-1928), who played Beatrice, had one of their greatest successes in a production which stayed in their repertory of plays until 1895. The mixture of gentility, comedy and humanity that they brought to their roles appealed to a respectable Victorian theatre audience.

Irving became a professional actor in 1856, and learned his trade in regional theatres until 1866, when he came to London. He joined the Lyceum Theatre company under the management of H. L. Bateman in 1871, winning great acclaim that year for his psychologically developed characterisation of the guilt-ridden inn-keeper Mathias in Leopold Lewis’s melodrama The Bells. He took on the responsibilities of ‘actor-manager’ in 1878 when he assumed the management of the Lyceum, and remained there until 1902, enjoying star status with his leading lady Ellen Terry. Irving produced a diverse range of old and new plays at the Lyceum, including Shakespeare, historical drama, and literary adaptations. His tireless work to elevate the status of the theatrical profession was rewarded in 1895 when he became the first actor ever to receive a knighthood for services to the Theatre.

Irving specialised in spectacularly staged productions with large casts of performers. He commissioned designers and composers to create appropriate scenery, costume and incidental music, played by a full orchestra. Although electric lighting was available from the 1880s, Irving preferred the softer effects of gas, with lime light to focus attention at key points in the play. Irving toured complete productions outside London, taking the full company, scenery and costumes throughout the United Kingdom and across the United States and Canada. The development of the railway system made his the first generation able to achieve this level of touring productions.
Bibliographic reference
Holmes, Martin. Stage Costumes and Accessories in the London Museum. London : HMSO, 1968 no.98
Other number
56.4/47a to e - Museum of London number
Collection
Accession number
S.2760:1 to 5-2010

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Record createdNovember 9, 2010
Record URL
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