Not currently on display at the V&A

King Henry VI

Costume Design
1957 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume design by Leslie Hurry for Bolingbroke, Thomas Horner and the Clerk of Chatham in William Shakespeare's King Henry VI by the Old Vic Company 1957. Costumes designs for Bolingbroke, a conjuror played by David Waller, Thomas Horner, an armourer played by Charles West and the Clerk of Chatham played by Harold Innocent.

King Henry VI by William Shakespeare, directed by Douglas Seale with set, property and costume designs was first performed at the Old Vic in October 1957 with Parts 1 and 2 opening on 16 October, and Part 3 on 17 October.

Douglas Seale's production followed on from his staging of the three plays in Birmingham four years earlier, but cut so that Parts 1 and 2 could be presented on one evening. Philip Hope Wallace in the Manchester Gurdian (18 October 1957) considered that Hurry's scenery was 'effective enough: a murky cavern, with side kennels and a fusty gloom about it...but pieces of scenery dangled and flapped, and here [as with the overall production[ was a general feeling that the grand design and strategy are still not quite finished'. Punch 23 October 1957 noted that 'Leslie Hurry has dressed it well, and his sloping stage edged by dark caverns fits it without fuss.'

The scenery was made in the Old Vic workshop under the direction of W. H. Parker and painted by Leslie Woolnough. Photographs by Angus McBean in the core collection of the Theatre & Performance Collections show the set as realised.





Object details

Category
Object type
TitleKing Henry VI (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour, ink and crayon on paper.
Brief description
Costume design by Leslie Hurry for Bolingbroke, Thomas Horner and the Clerk of Chatham in William Shakespeare's King Henry VI by the Old Vic Company 1957. Costumes designs for Bolingbroke, a conjuror played by David Waller, Thomas Horner, an armourer played by Charles West and the Clerk of Chatham played by Harold Innocent.
Physical description
Watercolour, ink and crayon on paper costume design by Leslie Hurry for Bolingbroke, a conjuror played by David Waller, Thomas Horner, an armourer played by Charles West and the Clerk of Chatham played by Haorld Innocent in King Henry VI by the Old Vic Company 1957. Bolingbroke is depicted wearing a a grenn and purple doublet with pink tights and pink shoes, and is possibly wering a black robe on top. Thomas Horner is depcited wearing a purple doublet with an armoured-breast plate along with grey tights and green boots. The Clerk is depicted wearing a dark red robe and hat.
Dimensions
  • Height: 30cm
  • Width: 46cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Bolingbroke - a conjuror Thomas Horner - armourer Clerk of Chatham (On front side in ink)
  • V (On reverse side in green ink)
  • Henry VI (On reverse side in pencil)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Caro Rathbone
Summary
Costume design by Leslie Hurry for Bolingbroke, Thomas Horner and the Clerk of Chatham in William Shakespeare's King Henry VI by the Old Vic Company 1957. Costumes designs for Bolingbroke, a conjuror played by David Waller, Thomas Horner, an armourer played by Charles West and the Clerk of Chatham played by Harold Innocent.

King Henry VI by William Shakespeare, directed by Douglas Seale with set, property and costume designs was first performed at the Old Vic in October 1957 with Parts 1 and 2 opening on 16 October, and Part 3 on 17 October.

Douglas Seale's production followed on from his staging of the three plays in Birmingham four years earlier, but cut so that Parts 1 and 2 could be presented on one evening. Philip Hope Wallace in the Manchester Gurdian (18 October 1957) considered that Hurry's scenery was 'effective enough: a murky cavern, with side kennels and a fusty gloom about it...but pieces of scenery dangled and flapped, and here [as with the overall production[ was a general feeling that the grand design and strategy are still not quite finished'. Punch 23 October 1957 noted that 'Leslie Hurry has dressed it well, and his sloping stage edged by dark caverns fits it without fuss.'

The scenery was made in the Old Vic workshop under the direction of W. H. Parker and painted by Leslie Woolnough. Photographs by Angus McBean in the core collection of the Theatre & Performance Collections show the set as realised.



Collection
Accession number
S.1829-2014

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Record createdAugust 7, 2014
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