Set design
Design
ca.1960-1970 (made)
ca.1960-1970 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Working drawing for the set design for an apparently unrealised production of Diary of a Madman by Nikolai Gogol, created by Leslie Hurry, ca.1960-70.
Leslie Hurry (1909-1978) trained at the Royal Academy and during the 1930s became known as a surrealist painter. A one-man show in London in 1942 was seen by the theatre director, Michael Benthall, who recommended Hurry to the dancer and choreographer, Robert Helpmann, then planning a ballet based on Shakespeare's Hamlet. The success of his designs set Hurry on a second career as one of the most distinguished theatre designers of his generation. He designed operas, ballets and plays, notably Swan Lake for the Sadler's Wells Ballet in 1943, a production which stayed in the repertoire for thirty years; Venice Preserv'd for Peter Brook (1953); the Ring Cycle at Covent Garden (1954), and Troilus and Cressida at Stratford for Peter Hall (1960), famous for being staged in a sand pit.
Leslie Hurry (1909-1978) trained at the Royal Academy and during the 1930s became known as a surrealist painter. A one-man show in London in 1942 was seen by the theatre director, Michael Benthall, who recommended Hurry to the dancer and choreographer, Robert Helpmann, then planning a ballet based on Shakespeare's Hamlet. The success of his designs set Hurry on a second career as one of the most distinguished theatre designers of his generation. He designed operas, ballets and plays, notably Swan Lake for the Sadler's Wells Ballet in 1943, a production which stayed in the repertoire for thirty years; Venice Preserv'd for Peter Brook (1953); the Ring Cycle at Covent Garden (1954), and Troilus and Cressida at Stratford for Peter Hall (1960), famous for being staged in a sand pit.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Title | Set design (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Ink, black wax crayon, and watercolour wash on thin paper. |
Brief description | Working drawing for the set design for an apparently unrealised production of Diary of a Madman by Nikolai Gogol, created by Leslie Hurry, ca.1960-70 |
Physical description | Working drawing for the set design for an apparently unrealised production of Diary of a Madman by Nikolai Gogol. The design is executed in ink, wax crayon and watercolour. The image shows a narrow bed with a metal bedstead. The bed is positioned against an angled section of wall on which there is a large painting of Christ. A small door has been set into the right hand side of the wall. The bed and wall are positioned in the midst of a swirling dark background executed in tones of black, yellow and grey. |
Dimensions |
|
Marks and inscriptions |
|
Credit line | Given by Mrs Caro Rathbone |
Literary reference | Diary of a Madman |
Summary | Working drawing for the set design for an apparently unrealised production of Diary of a Madman by Nikolai Gogol, created by Leslie Hurry, ca.1960-70. Leslie Hurry (1909-1978) trained at the Royal Academy and during the 1930s became known as a surrealist painter. A one-man show in London in 1942 was seen by the theatre director, Michael Benthall, who recommended Hurry to the dancer and choreographer, Robert Helpmann, then planning a ballet based on Shakespeare's Hamlet. The success of his designs set Hurry on a second career as one of the most distinguished theatre designers of his generation. He designed operas, ballets and plays, notably Swan Lake for the Sadler's Wells Ballet in 1943, a production which stayed in the repertoire for thirty years; Venice Preserv'd for Peter Brook (1953); the Ring Cycle at Covent Garden (1954), and Troilus and Cressida at Stratford for Peter Hall (1960), famous for being staged in a sand pit. |
Collection | |
Accession number | S.2406-2014 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | December 8, 2014 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSON