Study by Andrée Howard for scene 5, a Prison cage, of her ballet "Mirror for Witches", produced by the Sadler's Wells (now Royal) Ballet, 1952

A stage indicated by black border and wings, the backcloth tinted pink, with upstage left a seated female figure in a cage with the corner supports topped with crosses of Lorraine; the top is covered with black draperies which hang down the upstage corner and drape onto the stage; at right against the backcloth figures are grouped in balletic poses and lifts; along the foreground are grouped female figures, mostly facing towards the cage. Pencil, watercolour, wash and gouache on grey paper. On the reverse, pencil sketches for a set.

Given by Maude Gosling

The drawing is a study for scene 5, a Prison cage, in Andrée Howard's ballet Mirror for Witches, produced by the Sadler's Wells (now Royal) Ballet at the Royal Opera House in 1952. The ballet was based upon Esther Forbes' eponymous novel. The scene shows Doll dying in prison and figures conjured up in her delirium.
Howard designed the costumes and collaborated on the scene design with Norman Adams. This group of drawings (S.641-2001, S.642-2001 and S.643-2001), stressing groupings and atmosphere, would seem to be in the nature of choreographic studies, not set designs, capturing groupings and atmosphere.
The drawing came to the Museum from Maude Gosling, the dancer Maude Lloyd, who was a close friend of Andrée Howard.

Historical significance: Although not in Howard's usual style, it must be assumed that these are her drawings highlighting groupings and atmosphere for various scenes in the ballet and, along with the related pages containing a 'storyboard' and an outline of the scenario, are rare insights into the creative process.

S.643-2001