Costume Design
1958 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Great Britain’s leading theatre designer from the early 1930s to the mid 1950s, Oliver Messel (1904-1978) won international acclaim for his lavish, painterly and poetic designs informed by period styles. His work spans ballet, drama, film, musical, opera and revue. Messel’s traditional style of theatre design became unfashionable from the mid 1950s onwards, and he increasingly concentrated on painting, interior and textile design, including designing luxury homes in the Caribbean.
Sheridan’s The School for Scandal (1777) was first performed at the Det Ny Theatre, Copenhagen in 1958. Directed by Sam Besekow and featuring Bodil Kjer as Lady Teazle and Olaf Ussing as Sir Oliver Surface, the production received critical acclaim. Messel’s exuberant pastiche of eighteenth century period style was well suited to the artificiality and wit of Sheridan’s comedy of manners.
Snake forges letters for Mrs. Sneerwell. According to Messel’s costume notes, Snake’s costume consists of yellow velveteen breeches and a silver and blue waistcoat threaded to look like embroidery.
Sheridan’s The School for Scandal (1777) was first performed at the Det Ny Theatre, Copenhagen in 1958. Directed by Sam Besekow and featuring Bodil Kjer as Lady Teazle and Olaf Ussing as Sir Oliver Surface, the production received critical acclaim. Messel’s exuberant pastiche of eighteenth century period style was well suited to the artificiality and wit of Sheridan’s comedy of manners.
Snake forges letters for Mrs. Sneerwell. According to Messel’s costume notes, Snake’s costume consists of yellow velveteen breeches and a silver and blue waistcoat threaded to look like embroidery.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Charcoal, pencil, gouache and watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Costume design by Oliver Messel for Snake in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's play The School for Scandal, Det Ny Theatre, Copenhagen, 1958. |
| Physical description | A costume design for Snake, School for Scandal, 1958. A full length view of the figure, seated and turned to the left. He holds a book. Yellow breeches, white stockings and grey jacket with black spots. Burgundy lapels and turn-ins. Grey wig. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Design |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Acquired with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Art Fund and the Friends of the V&A |
| Object history | The School for Scandal (1777), a play in five acts by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Oliver Messel’s production was first performed at the Det Ny Theatre, Copenhagen, 19 September 1958. It was directed by Sam Besekow and featured Bodil Kjer as Lady Teazle and Olaf Ussing as Sir Oliver Surface. Lord Snowdon, Oliver Messel's nephew, inherited Messel's theatre designs and other designs and artefacts. The designs were briefly stored in a disused chapel in Kensington Palace before being housed at the V&A from 1981 on indefinite loan. The V&A Theatre Museum purchased the Oliver Messel collection from Lord Snowdon in 2005. |
| Production | Reason For Production: Commission |
| Summary | Great Britain’s leading theatre designer from the early 1930s to the mid 1950s, Oliver Messel (1904-1978) won international acclaim for his lavish, painterly and poetic designs informed by period styles. His work spans ballet, drama, film, musical, opera and revue. Messel’s traditional style of theatre design became unfashionable from the mid 1950s onwards, and he increasingly concentrated on painting, interior and textile design, including designing luxury homes in the Caribbean. Sheridan’s The School for Scandal (1777) was first performed at the Det Ny Theatre, Copenhagen in 1958. Directed by Sam Besekow and featuring Bodil Kjer as Lady Teazle and Olaf Ussing as Sir Oliver Surface, the production received critical acclaim. Messel’s exuberant pastiche of eighteenth century period style was well suited to the artificiality and wit of Sheridan’s comedy of manners. Snake forges letters for Mrs. Sneerwell. According to Messel’s costume notes, Snake’s costume consists of yellow velveteen breeches and a silver and blue waistcoat threaded to look like embroidery. |
| Bibliographic reference | Pinkham, Roger (ed.) Oliver Messel, London, V&A, 1983
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| Other number | ROT 3176 - TM Rotation Number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.295-2006 |
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| Record created | August 22, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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