Not currently on display at the V&A

King Lear

Set Design
1950 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Set design by Leslie Hurry for Shakespeare's King Lear directed by John Gielgud and Anthony Quayle, Shakespeare Memorial Theatre 1950.

Leslie Hurry designed the sets, props, and costumes for this production of King Lear, which opened on 18 July 1950. Gielgud also played the title role in what was described by the Daily Telegraph 19 July 1950 as ‘An impressive rather than a deeply moving production’.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleKing Lear (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Black ink, watercolour, crayon and pencil on paper
Brief description
Preliminary set design by Leslie Hurry for Shakespeare's King Lear directed by John Gielgud and Anthony Quayle, Shakespeare Memorial Theatre 1950
Physical description
Pen, watercolour and crayon set design on paper with pencil annotation by Leslie Hurry for Shakespeare's King Lear directed by John Gielgud and Anthony Quayle, Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, 1950. This is a preliminary design for two sets and is drawn on green graph paper with notes written alongside in black ink.
Dimensions
  • Height: 30.5cm
  • Width: 48.7cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • By lowering of chain Part curtains when full stage. Bar raise during parting of curtain Centre curtain part to [play?] small scenes. I don't feel that this will stand on ramped stage - ? can only topple over in centre nothing to hold it - ? ? ? (On front side in black ink)
  • 1950 Lear. Prelims. (On reverse side in pencil)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Caro Rathbone
Literary referenceKing Lear
Summary
Set design by Leslie Hurry for Shakespeare's King Lear directed by John Gielgud and Anthony Quayle, Shakespeare Memorial Theatre 1950.

Leslie Hurry designed the sets, props, and costumes for this production of King Lear, which opened on 18 July 1950. Gielgud also played the title role in what was described by the Daily Telegraph 19 July 1950 as ‘An impressive rather than a deeply moving production’.
Collection
Accession number
S.1980-2014

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Record createdAugust 27, 2014
Record URL
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