Not currently on display at the V&A

Timon of Athens

Set Design
1956 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Set design by Leslie Hurry for scenes in Athens for Timon of Athens by the Old Vic Company 1956.

The scenery was made in the Old Vic workshop under the direction of W.H. Parker and painted by Leslie Woolnough and the set was admired for its 'sombre richness'.

The set as realised is recorded in photographs by Angus McBean in the Theatre & Performance core collections.

Timon of Athens play by William Shakespeare directed by Michael Benthall for Old Vic Company and first performed at the Old Vic, London, on 5 September 1956. It had a week of previews at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle where it opened 29 August. Leslie Hurry was responsible for both sets and costumes. This production, which starred Ralph Richardson, was praised as 'one of the golden evenings in the theatre'.

The sets were admired and Milton Shulman in the Evening Standard (06/09/1956) praised its 'ominous colours - heavy orange, red and blue - of luxurious decadance'. J. C. Trewin in the Illustrated London News noted that 'Michael Benthall has staged the play with dignity and tact in sets by Leslie Hurry that do evoke the atmosphere of Timon's storm-cast world'.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleTimon of Athens (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour, ink and crayon on paper
Brief description
Set design by Leslie Hurry for scenes in Athens for Timon of Athens by the Old Vic Company 1956
Physical description
Watercolour, ink and crayon on paper set design by Leslie Hurry for scenes in Athens for Timon of Athens by the Old Vic Company 1956
Dimensions
  • Height: 28.5cm
  • Width: 39cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Timon (On reverse side in pencil)
  • V 2 (On reverse side in purple ink)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Caro Rathbone
Summary
Set design by Leslie Hurry for scenes in Athens for Timon of Athens by the Old Vic Company 1956.

The scenery was made in the Old Vic workshop under the direction of W.H. Parker and painted by Leslie Woolnough and the set was admired for its 'sombre richness'.

The set as realised is recorded in photographs by Angus McBean in the Theatre & Performance core collections.

Timon of Athens play by William Shakespeare directed by Michael Benthall for Old Vic Company and first performed at the Old Vic, London, on 5 September 1956. It had a week of previews at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle where it opened 29 August. Leslie Hurry was responsible for both sets and costumes. This production, which starred Ralph Richardson, was praised as 'one of the golden evenings in the theatre'.

The sets were admired and Milton Shulman in the Evening Standard (06/09/1956) praised its 'ominous colours - heavy orange, red and blue - of luxurious decadance'. J. C. Trewin in the Illustrated London News noted that 'Michael Benthall has staged the play with dignity and tact in sets by Leslie Hurry that do evoke the atmosphere of Timon's storm-cast world'.
Collection
Accession number
S.1786-2014

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Record createdJuly 31, 2014
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