As You Like It
Theatre Design
1991 (made)
1991 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Piece of set model (wooden floor with two reclining figures), for As You Like It, Cheek by Jowl tours, 1991-1992 and 1994-1995.
This production of As You Like It was staged by the Cheek by Jowl theatre company and directed by Declan Donnellan, who co-founded the company with the designer, Nick Ormerod. Cheek by Jowl productions were notable for their simplicity of design and for their focus on the actor as storyteller, and As You Like It was a perfect example of the company's style, using Ormerod's white box set and forest of green hangings to create a simple, unobtrusive location for the action. The play began and ended with the whole acting company on stage. Dressed in basic black trousers and white shirts, they were clearly actors presenting a story to an audience which was required to use its imagination and participate in the illusion. The all-male production was first staged in 1991, toured extensively, and was revived in 1994 and taken on a further world tour which ended in London at the Albery Theatre. The freshness of the approach, and a fine Rosalind from Adrian Lester, won it critical plaudits. Nicholas de Jongh of the Evening Standard wrote that it would "define the play for the 1990s".
This production of As You Like It was staged by the Cheek by Jowl theatre company and directed by Declan Donnellan, who co-founded the company with the designer, Nick Ormerod. Cheek by Jowl productions were notable for their simplicity of design and for their focus on the actor as storyteller, and As You Like It was a perfect example of the company's style, using Ormerod's white box set and forest of green hangings to create a simple, unobtrusive location for the action. The play began and ended with the whole acting company on stage. Dressed in basic black trousers and white shirts, they were clearly actors presenting a story to an audience which was required to use its imagination and participate in the illusion. The all-male production was first staged in 1991, toured extensively, and was revived in 1994 and taken on a further world tour which ended in London at the Albery Theatre. The freshness of the approach, and a fine Rosalind from Adrian Lester, won it critical plaudits. Nicholas de Jongh of the Evening Standard wrote that it would "define the play for the 1990s".
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | As You Like It (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Balsa wood, gouache, plasticine, glue and card |
Brief description | Piece of set model (wooden floor with two reclining figures), for As You Like It, Cheek by Jowl tours, 1991-1992 and 1994-1995 |
Physical description | Model of a stage floor made of balsa wood planks with, slightly off centre, a small raised circular black platform on which are two reclining female figures, one black and wearing a long blue dress, the other white with fair hair and wearing a long red dress. The planked floor is mounted on black card which appears to be part of the original model and has some surface damage, tears and glue marks. |
Dimensions |
|
Production type | Unique |
Credit line | Given by Cheek by Jowl Theatre Company |
Object history | This model piece and a collection of designs for Shakespeare's As You Like It were given to the museum by the touring theatre company, Cheek by Jowl, which staged the production in 1991-1992 and 1994-1995. |
Subjects depicted | |
Literary reference | As You Like It |
Summary | Piece of set model (wooden floor with two reclining figures), for As You Like It, Cheek by Jowl tours, 1991-1992 and 1994-1995. This production of As You Like It was staged by the Cheek by Jowl theatre company and directed by Declan Donnellan, who co-founded the company with the designer, Nick Ormerod. Cheek by Jowl productions were notable for their simplicity of design and for their focus on the actor as storyteller, and As You Like It was a perfect example of the company's style, using Ormerod's white box set and forest of green hangings to create a simple, unobtrusive location for the action. The play began and ended with the whole acting company on stage. Dressed in basic black trousers and white shirts, they were clearly actors presenting a story to an audience which was required to use its imagination and participate in the illusion. The all-male production was first staged in 1991, toured extensively, and was revived in 1994 and taken on a further world tour which ended in London at the Albery Theatre. The freshness of the approach, and a fine Rosalind from Adrian Lester, won it critical plaudits. Nicholas de Jongh of the Evening Standard wrote that it would "define the play for the 1990s". |
Collection | |
Accession number | S.216-1999 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | October 22, 1999 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSON