Robinson Crusoe thumbnail 1
Robinson Crusoe thumbnail 2
+1
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

Robinson Crusoe

Set Design
1957 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design for a Backcloth, for the 'Finale', created for Robinson Crusoe, London Palladium, 1957.

In 1947, Val Parnell took over the management of the London Palladium, one of the largest theatres in Britain. Under Parnell, the Palladium presented large-scale spectacular pantomimes until 1987 and became known as the Home of Pantomime due to its lavish productions featuring the biggest celebrity names of the time.

Robinson Crusoe was the West End’s only pantomime in 1957 and ran until 5th April 1958 starring comics Arthur Askey as Big Hearted Martha and Tommy Cooper as Abu.

The show’s scenary, designed by Edward Delany, achieved great praise, with the Daily Telegraph describing it as “lavish and glittering” and the Observer commenting that “magnificent and ever-changing splendours hold the eye.”
The production cost £40,000 to stage and is reported by the [Manchester] Guardian as having drawn “noises of pleasure” from the audience as scenes such as the Port of Panama, Davy Jones’ Locker, The Belly of a Whale and the Island of Juan Fernandez were revealed.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleRobinson Crusoe (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Gouache and watercolour on paper.
Brief description
Design for a Backcloth, for the 'Finale', created for Robinson Crusoe, London Palladium, 1957
Physical description
Gouache and watercolour on card design for a Backcloth, created for the finale of Robinson Crusoe, London Palladium, 1957. The foreground of the Backcloth features a sandy island covered with palm trees, and with a ship, the sails unfurled, visible of the ocean scene which dominates the background. A four pointed compass has been added to the top left hand corner of the design.
A line drawn sketch for the original design, executed in black ink, is visible on the rear of the design.
Dimensions
  • Height: 31.5cm
  • Width: 63.8cm (approximate)
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'FINALE B.G.' (Handwritten annotation in black pencil crayon on the rear of the design.)
  • Transliteration
Credit line
Given by Roger Fox
Summary
Design for a Backcloth, for the 'Finale', created for Robinson Crusoe, London Palladium, 1957.

In 1947, Val Parnell took over the management of the London Palladium, one of the largest theatres in Britain. Under Parnell, the Palladium presented large-scale spectacular pantomimes until 1987 and became known as the Home of Pantomime due to its lavish productions featuring the biggest celebrity names of the time.

Robinson Crusoe was the West End’s only pantomime in 1957 and ran until 5th April 1958 starring comics Arthur Askey as Big Hearted Martha and Tommy Cooper as Abu.

The show’s scenary, designed by Edward Delany, achieved great praise, with the Daily Telegraph describing it as “lavish and glittering” and the Observer commenting that “magnificent and ever-changing splendours hold the eye.”
The production cost £40,000 to stage and is reported by the [Manchester] Guardian as having drawn “noises of pleasure” from the audience as scenes such as the Port of Panama, Davy Jones’ Locker, The Belly of a Whale and the Island of Juan Fernandez were revealed.
Collection
Accession number
S.317-2015

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