Not currently on display at the V&A

Poster Design

1955
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Original design on paper mounted on board for a poster in watercolour and gouache on paper, with a central stylised image of dancers in black and red, cut out and applied as an area of collage over another central area of collage. On either side of the central image are rectangular areas of green, to the right, and purple, to the left, created by a wax-resist technique. The lettering above the image spells the title Cranks in capitals, each letter decorated with eye shapes with yellow sclera and black pupils. Production details, surrounding the image of the dancers, are in white gouache, including the names of the writer; composer; lighting designer, performers and musicians. Unframed.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Mixed media
Brief description
Original design by John Piper for the entertainment Cranks, written and devised by John Cranko with music by John Addison, New Watergate Theatre, 19 December 1955, transferring to St. Martin's 1 March 1956.
Physical description
Original design on paper mounted on board for a poster in watercolour and gouache on paper, with a central stylised image of dancers in black and red, cut out and applied as an area of collage over another central area of collage. On either side of the central image are rectangular areas of green, to the right, and purple, to the left, created by a wax-resist technique. The lettering above the image spells the title Cranks in capitals, each letter decorated with eye shapes with yellow sclera and black pupils. Production details, surrounding the image of the dancers, are in white gouache, including the names of the writer; composer; lighting designer, performers and musicians. Unframed.
Dimensions
  • Height: 91.4cm
  • Length: 119.1cm
Production typeDesign
Credit line
Given by Sir Ian Hunter
Object history
Original design by John Piper for the entertainment Cranks, written and devised by John Cranko with music by John Addison and designs by John Piper, New Watergate Theatre, 19 December 1955, featuring Gordon Heath, Marcia Ashton, Anthony Newley and Gilbert Vernon, transferring to St. Martin's Theatre, 1 March 1956, and later to the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith.
Bibliographic reference
John Piper. Catalogue for the Tate Gallery Exhibition, November 1983-January 1984. John Piper and the Stage. Catalogue for the Pallant House Exhibition, Chichester, February-April 1993.
Collection
Accession number
S.626-2001

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Record createdSeptember 17, 2001
Record URL
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