Not currently on display at the V&A

The Escape from the Seraglio

Theatre Design
1967 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design by Malcolm Pride for Blonda in The Escape from the Seraglio, Phoenix Opera Company, Bath Festival, 1967

Malcolm Pride (1930-2003) trained at the Old Vic School. His first major design commission was Volpone for the 1952 season at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. He went on to design sets and costumes for theatre, ballet and opera productions, and his work was seen in London's West End, at Sadler's Wells and the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, and at the Edinburgh Festival. In 1973 he became Head of the Theatre Design Department at Wimbledon College of Art, a post which he held for 27 years.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Escape from the Seraglio (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour, gouache and pencil on paper, with fabric samples pinned to the design.
Brief description
Design by Malcolm Pride for Blonda in The Escape from the Seraglio, Phoenix Opera Company, Bath Festival, 1967
Physical description
Design by Malcolm Pride for Blonda in The Escape from the Seraglio,1967. It shows a full length female figure dressed in an early eighteenth century style black and yellow dress. The dress is trimmed with sections of teal and yellow ribbon and has a close fitting bodice which extends into a low 'V' at the centre front and has a low square neckline. The sleeves are full and finish on the lower arm in a wide, white cuffs. The upper skirt is black and is gathered up at the hips to expose the striped black and yellow underskirt beneath. She is shown with her left hand on her hip and is also wearing a small lace cap with a scalloped edge and trimmed with long green and yellow ribbons.

Handwritten annotation has been added to the design using pencil.
Dimensions
  • Height: 35.3cm
  • Width: 25.1cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • '"The Flight from/The Seraglio"/Phoenix Opera Company/Bath Festival/1967' (Handwritten annotation in pencil, bottom left hand corner.)
  • 'Malcolm Pride' (Handwritten annotation in pencil, signature of artist, bottom right hand corner.)
  • 'BLONDA' (Handwritten annotation in pencil, left hand side.)
Credit line
Given by the estate of Malcolm Pride
Summary
Design by Malcolm Pride for Blonda in The Escape from the Seraglio, Phoenix Opera Company, Bath Festival, 1967

Malcolm Pride (1930-2003) trained at the Old Vic School. His first major design commission was Volpone for the 1952 season at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. He went on to design sets and costumes for theatre, ballet and opera productions, and his work was seen in London's West End, at Sadler's Wells and the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, and at the Edinburgh Festival. In 1973 he became Head of the Theatre Design Department at Wimbledon College of Art, a post which he held for 27 years.
Collection
Accession number
S.313-2015

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

Record createdMarch 24, 2015
Record URL
Download as: JSON