Medal, base metal, commemorating Shakespeare and his association with The Theatre, designed by David Cornell with the assistance of Pamela Roditi, struck by The Tower Mint to fund the building of a new theatre in Shoreditch, London, 2010

Circular base metal medal.

Given by Mark Jones

This medal was commissioned by Nick and Pamela Roditi through The Curtain Foundation and given to V&A director Mark Jones who passed it into the care of the Sculpture section in 2011.

The medal was designed by portrait sculptor David Cornell with the assistance of Pamela Roditi, and struck by the Tower Mint.
Commemorating Shakespeare and his association with The Theatre, it was struck to fund the building of a new theatre on a site in Shoreditch. There are 135 sterling silver strikes, each numbered and ribboned, 500 brass strikes and 1,000 base metal strikes. This medal is one of the latter.
On the obverse is Shakespeare, with an image of the new theatre to be built. Planning permission for 'The Theatre, Shoreditch' was granted in 2010 and the opening date of the building is scheduled for 2013.
On the reverse, Queen Elizabeth I is seen in profile, holding an image of The Theatre in her hand instead of the orb. This theatre, where the first perfomance of Romeo and Juliet took place, was dismantled in 1598 and moved to the London borough of Southwark, where it was known as the Globe Theatre.

An interesting example of the contemporary use of medals to raise awareness to and fund a project supporting the arts, this medal was struck to fund the building of a new theatre in Shoreditch. It commemorates Shakespeare and his association with The Theatre where the first performance of Romeo and Juliet took place. Dismantled in 1598 it was moved to Southwark, where it was known as the Globe Theatre.

A.5-2011