Not currently on display at the V&A

Costume Design

1974 (Painted, Drawn)
Artist/Maker

Costume designs for Ladies in Act IV of "Manon". The design depicts five full length female figures wearing 18th century style costume which consist of overskirts, underskirts, bodices and stomachers in shades of purple, pink, brown and green. 32 Fabric swatches are attached to the lower edge of the design.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pencil, Pen & Ink, Ink, and Paper Collage, on Paper
Brief description
Costume design by Alix Stone for Ladies in Act IV of "Manon", English National Opera, London Coliseum, January 24th 1974.
Physical description
Costume designs for Ladies in Act IV of "Manon". The design depicts five full length female figures wearing 18th century style costume which consist of overskirts, underskirts, bodices and stomachers in shades of purple, pink, brown and green. 32 Fabric swatches are attached to the lower edge of the design.
Dimensions
  • Height: 378mm
  • Width: 557mm
  • Mount width: 415mm
  • Mount height: 580mm
The design had been glued directly onto a card mount.
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • ' Alix Stone ' (Signature; Lower left hand side of the mount.; handwriting; pencil)
  • ' NASH IV / E. HOWARTH III, / IV / WELLARD / MOUNTFORD / IV / L. HOWARTH / IV / 18 / McLEAN / IV ' (Textual information; Across the top of the design.; handwriting; pencil)
  • ' Ladies Semele / + frills and ribbons on Dress / A / + Transylvania / B / - (Some devouts with shawls off) / D / L. HOWARTH / E ' (Textual information; Across the bottom of the design.; handwriting; pencil)
Object history
This costume design by Alix Stone is part of an extensive collection of designs purchased by the Theatre Museum directly from the artist in 1994. The design was executed for a production of Massenet's opera "Manon" performed by the English National Opera at the London Coliseum, January 24th 1974. The opera was translated by Edmund Tracey, and the production was directed by John Copley. The scenery was designed by Henry Bardon; the lighting was designed by Robert Bryan; and the choreographer was Pauline Grant. The production was subsequently revived at the Coliseum in September 1974, and extensively toured various English provincial theatres during the springs of 1974 and 1975.

The production was later revised with some new costume designs by Alix Stone at the London Coliseum on April 12th 1979. This revised version was subsequently revived at the Coliseum in February 1980, February 1982, and October 1984.
Production
Reason For Production: Commission
Subjects depicted
Associations
Literary references
  • Manon Lescaut
  • Manon
Collection
Accession number
S.181-2001

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Record createdMay 15, 2001
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