Theatre Costume
1964 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
An Inca mask, designed by Michael Annals for the premiere of Peter Shaffer's epic play, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, by National Theatre Company in 1964. The play tells the story of the Spanish conquest of Peru and the death of the god-king, Atahuallpa. Michael Annals devised a spectacular staging, based on the emblem of the sun, and dressed the Incas in dazzling masks and headdresses. 'We drowned the stage with gold and feathers', said Shaffer. It was a triumph of design which established the 26-year-old Annals as a major talent.
The role of Atahuallpa was created by Robert Stephens, who wore this mask for his first appearance in the play. As the action moved to Peru, a huge metal disc at an upper level of the stage opened out to become a metallic sun, at the centre of which stood the masked figure of Atahuallpa, dressed in a flowing feathered cloak.
The mask was made by John Gunter, who went on to become a theatre designer himself. It is a good example of the ingenuity of the theatrical costume maker. From a distance the headdress looks like beaten copper, but it is, in fact, constructed from fibreboard covered in gold-painted leatherette.
The role of Atahuallpa was created by Robert Stephens, who wore this mask for his first appearance in the play. As the action moved to Peru, a huge metal disc at an upper level of the stage opened out to become a metallic sun, at the centre of which stood the masked figure of Atahuallpa, dressed in a flowing feathered cloak.
The mask was made by John Gunter, who went on to become a theatre designer himself. It is a good example of the ingenuity of the theatrical costume maker. From a distance the headdress looks like beaten copper, but it is, in fact, constructed from fibreboard covered in gold-painted leatherette.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Fibreboard, hardboard, gold-painted leatherette, gold braid, canvas, plastic, wool, wire, foam rubber and felt |
| Brief description | Mask for the Inca king, Atahuallpa, designed by Michael Annals for Peter Shaffer's play The Royal Hunt of the Sun, National Theatre Company, Chichester Festival Theatre and Old Vic, 1964; ANTA Theatre, New York, 1965. |
| Physical description | Elaborate half mask, with tall headdress of fibreboard, hardboard and gold-painted leatherette and, to each side, a bold 'fan' of white feathers. At front, an attached panel with a curved top, rising above the main headdress, with, in front of this, a crest of plastic rods.. The eye piece extends beyond the face and from each side hang long wool ropes. The inside of the mask is padded with felt and foam rubber. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Dodger Stage Holding Theatricals Inc |
| Object history | This mask was designed by Michael Annals for the premiere of The Royal Hunt of the Sun, which John Dexter directed for the National Theatre Company in 1964. The production opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre and then transferred to the Old Vic. Following its British success, Dexter re-staged the play for the ANTA Theatre, New York, using the same production team. The masks made for the National Theatre were re-used in the Broadway production. Atahuallpa was played by Robert Stephens in London and by David Carradine in New York. Historical significance: A fortunate survival from a significant theatre production of the 1960s. Peter Shaffer's epic play was the newly established National Theatre Company's first premiere and a major triumph of direction and design. It established the career of Michael Annals, who went on to work extensively at the National Theatre and on Broadway, and conferred stardom upon Robert Stephens. |
| Summary | An Inca mask, designed by Michael Annals for the premiere of Peter Shaffer's epic play, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, by National Theatre Company in 1964. The play tells the story of the Spanish conquest of Peru and the death of the god-king, Atahuallpa. Michael Annals devised a spectacular staging, based on the emblem of the sun, and dressed the Incas in dazzling masks and headdresses. 'We drowned the stage with gold and feathers', said Shaffer. It was a triumph of design which established the 26-year-old Annals as a major talent. The role of Atahuallpa was created by Robert Stephens, who wore this mask for his first appearance in the play. As the action moved to Peru, a huge metal disc at an upper level of the stage opened out to become a metallic sun, at the centre of which stood the masked figure of Atahuallpa, dressed in a flowing feathered cloak. The mask was made by John Gunter, who went on to become a theatre designer himself. It is a good example of the ingenuity of the theatrical costume maker. From a distance the headdress looks like beaten copper, but it is, in fact, constructed from fibreboard covered in gold-painted leatherette. |
| Bibliographic reference | Wengrow, Arnold, Observe and show: the theatre art of Michael Annals, London, V&A Publications, 2003
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| Other number | CONS.10358-2003 - Theatre Museum Conservation Number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.39-2003 |
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| Record created | October 17, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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