Not currently on display at the V&A

Set Design

1981 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Annals, Michael (Mr) (theatre designer)
Place of origin
Great Britain (made)

Design for the Prologue in Switch Bitch, showing on the left a castellated building with battlements, the entrance flanked by obelisks, and on the right a gazebo or garden house with a door. The building is constructed in two sections, inscribed 'No 1 FLY' and 'No 2 FLY', with the remainder painted on a backcloth, inscribed 'SC.1 CLOTH'. The gazebo appears to be freestanding with foliage and a table to the left. Measurements giving the depth of the stage and the distances between the scenic elements are inscribed. The drawing is set within a rectangular border and is unsigned.


Object details

Categories
Entertainment & Leisure
Designs
Dance
Object type
Set design
Materials and techniques
Pencil and crayon on tracing paper
Pencil
Crayon
Tracing Paper
Drawing (Image-Making)
Brief description
Design by Michael Annals for the Prologue in Switch Bitch, London Festival Ballet, 1981-1982
Physical description
Design for the Prologue in Switch Bitch, showing on the left a castellated building with battlements, the entrance flanked by obelisks, and on the right a gazebo or garden house with a door. The building is constructed in two sections, inscribed 'No 1 FLY' and 'No 2 FLY', with the remainder painted on a backcloth, inscribed 'SC.1 CLOTH'. The gazebo appears to be freestanding with foliage and a table to the left. Measurements giving the depth of the stage and the distances between the scenic elements are inscribed. The drawing is set within a rectangular border and is unsigned.
Dimensions
  • Height: 209mm
  • Width: 297mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'PROLOGUE' (Textual information; Upper right hand corner; Handwriting; Pencil)
  • 'NO 1 FLY / NO 2 FLY / SC.1 CLOTH' (Textual information; On battlements on left hand side of design; Handwriting; Pencil)
  • 'TABLE / OPENS / UP/STAGE' (Textual information; On gazebo on lower right hand side of design; Handwriting; Pencil)
  • 'APRON DEPTH?' (Textual information; Lower right; Handwriting; Pencil)
  • 'HOUSE TABS' (Textual information; Handwriting; Pencil)
  • Transliteration
Credit line
Given by Trevor Wood
Object history
In 1981 the choreographer Trevor Wood adapted a Roald Dahl short story into a new ballet, Switch Bitch, for London Festival Ballet. In discussion with the ballet's designer, Michael Annals, Trevor Wood asked Annals to sketch the proposed set design as an aide memoire. Annals produced three designs, one of which Trevor Wood retained, the other two he gave to the Theatre Museum along with a photocopy of the third. Switch Bitch premiered at the Bristol Hippodrome on 30 November 1981 and was given at the London Coliseum on 6 May 1982.
Subjects depicted
Theatre Set
Castle
Literary referenceSwitch Bitch
Collection
Theatre and Performance Collection
Accession number
S.267-1999

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Record createdNovember 18, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O12219/set-design-annals-michael-mr/
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