Theatre Costume
1959 (made)
| Artist/Maker |
Unstructured pseudo Fortuni sleeveless boatneck full length tunic in black loosely woven cotton. From the shoulders and to the back hang full length strips of black and brown fringed cotton net and long strips of the basic fabric to the back. The costume is lined with beige art silk. At some time later two more inner linings of white art silk have been attached below the bust level, one layer of which has been stitched to the beige lining. The costume fastens on the left shoulder with velcro and down the full length of the left side seam with a strip of press studs on a cotton base. The innermost lining is fastened with velcro. A printed wardrobe label is sewn inside the back of the costume. Some damage has been sustained: right back, 2.5cm below the shoulder line, a 5cm vertical slit; centre back, 2.5cm below the neckline, a 4cm three-cornered tear; left back, 57.5cm below shoulder, a 4cm hole.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Woven cotton, art silk, velcro, press studs |
| Brief description | Tunic dress designed by Riette Sturge Moore for Edith Evans as Volumnia in Shakespeare's Coriolanus, Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, 1959 |
| Physical description | Unstructured pseudo Fortuni sleeveless boatneck full length tunic in black loosely woven cotton. From the shoulders and to the back hang full length strips of black and brown fringed cotton net and long strips of the basic fabric to the back. The costume is lined with beige art silk. At some time later two more inner linings of white art silk have been attached below the bust level, one layer of which has been stitched to the beige lining. The costume fastens on the left shoulder with velcro and down the full length of the left side seam with a strip of press studs on a cotton base. The innermost lining is fastened with velcro. A printed wardrobe label is sewn inside the back of the costume. Some damage has been sustained: right back, 2.5cm below the shoulder line, a 5cm vertical slit; centre back, 2.5cm below the neckline, a 4cm three-cornered tear; left back, 57.5cm below shoulder, a 4cm hole. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr. Miles Anderson |
| Object history | This costume was worn by Edith Evans as Volumnia in Shakespeare' s Coriolanus, directed by Peter Hall, which opened at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford upon Avon, 7 July 1959. Historical significance: This costume is a good example of period design and was worn by one of the 20th century's major actresses in an acclaimed Shakespeare production which also starred Laurence Olivier |
| Association | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.265-1999 |
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| Record created | November 3, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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