Not currently on display at the V&A

Hamlet

Drawing
ca. 1987 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Set design by Voytek for the ship scene (final scene) in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead as performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin in April 1987.

This production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard was directed by Brian de Salvo and performed by the Abbey Theatre Company at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin in April 1987.

Dubbed Voytek by George Devine, Wojciech Roman Pawel Jerzy Szendzikowski (1925-2014), was known for his distinctive designs for the stage, theatre and film. Drawing his elaborate designs from in depth analysis of each script or screenplay.

Winning the Military Cross for his role in the Second World War, Voytek transferring first to Italy and then to Scotland after the end of the war where he enrolled at the Dundee Art Collage. In 1947 he moved to London, becoming a student of stage design at the Old Vic Theatre School. His career as a stage set and costume designer began with the Nottingham Playhouse whist his work on TV drama began with ABC Television and on film with Roman Polanski’s Cul-de-Sac.

His theatrical works concentrated on major regional theatre and touring companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Nottingham Playhouse, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Shared Experience; he was head of design at the Liverpool Playhouse from 1981-1982.

The collection this design is from also contains working drawings, model pieces, photograph, production notes as well as press cuttings and programmes relating to Voytek’s career as a production designer for the stage, television and film.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleHamlet (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
pencil on paper
Brief description
Set design by Voytek for the ship scene (final scene) in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead as performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin in April 1987
Physical description
Set design by Voytek for the ship scene (final scene) in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead as performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin in April 1987. Soft pencil sketch showing the deck of a ship with a large metal tank at the centre. A male figure, dressed in uniform is shown positioned on the right hand side of the design, two further figures are shown slumped against a metal barrel positioned on the left hand side of the deck.
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.4cm
  • Width: 41.7cm
Credit line
Given by the artist
Literary referenceRosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Summary
Set design by Voytek for the ship scene (final scene) in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead as performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin in April 1987.

This production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard was directed by Brian de Salvo and performed by the Abbey Theatre Company at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin in April 1987.

Dubbed Voytek by George Devine, Wojciech Roman Pawel Jerzy Szendzikowski (1925-2014), was known for his distinctive designs for the stage, theatre and film. Drawing his elaborate designs from in depth analysis of each script or screenplay.

Winning the Military Cross for his role in the Second World War, Voytek transferring first to Italy and then to Scotland after the end of the war where he enrolled at the Dundee Art Collage. In 1947 he moved to London, becoming a student of stage design at the Old Vic Theatre School. His career as a stage set and costume designer began with the Nottingham Playhouse whist his work on TV drama began with ABC Television and on film with Roman Polanski’s Cul-de-Sac.

His theatrical works concentrated on major regional theatre and touring companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Nottingham Playhouse, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Shared Experience; he was head of design at the Liverpool Playhouse from 1981-1982.

The collection this design is from also contains working drawings, model pieces, photograph, production notes as well as press cuttings and programmes relating to Voytek’s career as a production designer for the stage, television and film.
Other number
THM/153 - Archive number
Collection
Accession number
S.2103-1994

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Record createdSeptember 18, 2014
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