Not currently on display at the V&A

Feliks Topolski Collection

Drawing
1977 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

One of a series of 8 sketches by Feliks Topolski connected with the production of Illuminatus at the Cottesloe, National Theatre in March, 1977.

Illuminatus was the first public performance to be staged at the Cottesloe. Based on The Illuminatus Trilogy (a series of three novels written by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson and first published in 1975) the production was directed by Ken Campbell who decided to stage the books in their entirity, converting them into a cycle of five plays: The Eye of the Pyramid, Swift Kick Inc, The Man Who Murdered God, Walpurgisnacht Rock and Leviathan. Each play consisted of five 23-minute-long acts.

The production was first performed in Liverpool, opening in November of 1976, and Ken Campbell and Chris Langham set up 'The Science Fiction Theatre of Liverpool' to bring together the cast required for this ambitious venture.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleFeliks Topolski Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Marker pen and crayon on paper
Brief description
One of a series of 8 sketches by Feliks Topolski connected with the production of Illuminatus at the Cottesloe, National Theatre in March, 1977.
Physical description
Horizontal rough sketch on cream paper in felt pen, charcoal and crayon. It shows a scene from the 1977 production of Illuminatus at the Cottesloe, (National Theatre) in which full length line drawn figures in marker pen are interspersed with charcoal sketches of heads and shading. Bright green and pink crayon has been used to add a logo connected with the Science Fiction Theatre of Liverpool (the company formed to stage the production).
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.2cm
  • Width: 41.3cm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • The/[illegible symbol] F/Theatre of Liverpool (Handwritten annotation in pink and green crayon in the top right hand corner of the image. It probably refers to 'The Science Fiction Theatre of Liverpool' (the company formed to stage this production).)
  • 'Cottesloe March 1977' (Handwritten annotation in red ink at the base of the sketch)
Credit line
Given by the artist
Literary referenceIlluminatus
Summary
One of a series of 8 sketches by Feliks Topolski connected with the production of Illuminatus at the Cottesloe, National Theatre in March, 1977.

Illuminatus was the first public performance to be staged at the Cottesloe. Based on The Illuminatus Trilogy (a series of three novels written by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson and first published in 1975) the production was directed by Ken Campbell who decided to stage the books in their entirity, converting them into a cycle of five plays: The Eye of the Pyramid, Swift Kick Inc, The Man Who Murdered God, Walpurgisnacht Rock and Leviathan. Each play consisted of five 23-minute-long acts.

The production was first performed in Liverpool, opening in November of 1976, and Ken Campbell and Chris Langham set up 'The Science Fiction Theatre of Liverpool' to bring together the cast required for this ambitious venture.
Associated objects
Other number
74 - Creator's reference no.
Collection
Accession number
S.140-1979

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Record createdDecember 9, 2010
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