Not on display

Set Design

1972 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The set design by Carl Toms shows the main hall of Mr Hardcastle’s country house for the eighteenth century play by Oliver Goldsmith She Stoops to Conquer.

The setting which shows the open seating and thrust stage of the theatre includes a rustic interior with log fire, hard benches a table and chairs and wooden staircase to an upper level hung with picture and antlers. The pit area is occupied by an exterior location with flower beds and wheelbarrow. The surrounds suggests barns or out-buildings.

The production featured Denise Coffey as Kate, Nicky Henson as Marlow, Richard Pearson as Mr. Hardcastle and Gavin Reed as Tony Lumpkin. John Barber in the Daily Telegraph noted that ‘The audience are placed round three sides of Mr. Hardcastle’s house, so unfortunately mistaken by Young Marlow for a wayside inn. Exposed as in a goldfish bowl, the actors must be totally honest. The least exaggeration of posture or voice will betray them as fakes to youngsters seated barely a yard away.’ Generally reviews were favourable although Nicholas de Jongh in the Guardian (05/02/1972) considered the setting over complicated ‘ugly and unfunctional…with its cluster of exits, [which] imposes semi naturalism uneasily on the open stage.’ The Young Vic’s production that also played at Edinburgh and Aberdeen was produced by Wendy Toye with lighting by Derek J. Brown. The production opened at the Young Vic on 25/01/1972

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Ink and watercolour on grey paper
Brief description
Design by Carl Toms for Mr Hardcastle's house on the open stage of the Young Vic, London, for Wendy Toye's 1972 production of Oliver Goldsmith's play, She Stoops to Conquer
Physical description
Set design showing Mr. Hardcastle's house in the country in which the action of Oliver Goldsmith's play She Stoops to Conquer takes place.
Dimensions
  • Height: 36cm
  • Width: 52cm
Credit line
Given by Wendy Toye
Object history
Acquired with the Wendy Toye production archive with her annotated production script and related material including the cast list for Young Vic and a programme for Edinburgh
Literary referenceOliver Goldsmith. She Stoops to Conquer
Summary
The set design by Carl Toms shows the main hall of Mr Hardcastle’s country house for the eighteenth century play by Oliver Goldsmith She Stoops to Conquer.

The setting which shows the open seating and thrust stage of the theatre includes a rustic interior with log fire, hard benches a table and chairs and wooden staircase to an upper level hung with picture and antlers. The pit area is occupied by an exterior location with flower beds and wheelbarrow. The surrounds suggests barns or out-buildings.

The production featured Denise Coffey as Kate, Nicky Henson as Marlow, Richard Pearson as Mr. Hardcastle and Gavin Reed as Tony Lumpkin. John Barber in the Daily Telegraph noted that ‘The audience are placed round three sides of Mr. Hardcastle’s house, so unfortunately mistaken by Young Marlow for a wayside inn. Exposed as in a goldfish bowl, the actors must be totally honest. The least exaggeration of posture or voice will betray them as fakes to youngsters seated barely a yard away.’ Generally reviews were favourable although Nicholas de Jongh in the Guardian (05/02/1972) considered the setting over complicated ‘ugly and unfunctional…with its cluster of exits, [which] imposes semi naturalism uneasily on the open stage.’ The Young Vic’s production that also played at Edinburgh and Aberdeen was produced by Wendy Toye with lighting by Derek J. Brown. The production opened at the Young Vic on 25/01/1972
Collection
Accession number
S.1404-2013

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

Record createdMarch 18, 2014
Record URL
Download as: JSON