Not on display

Tamburlaine the Great

Costume Design
1951 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume design by Leslie Hurry for Timor's hat in Christopher Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great directed by Tyrone Guthrie for the Old Vic Company at the Old Vic theatre, London 1951. Timor is an alternative name for Tamburlaine.

This production of Tamburlaine the Great opened on 24 September 1951. Tyrone Guthrie and Donald Wolfit prepared the text, with Wolfit also playing the title role. The music was composed by John Gardner. After its run at the Old Vic the production was presented at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon for the week beginning 29 October 1951.

Sets and costumes were by Leslie Hurry, with Norman Smith serving as his assistant. The production was spectacular and drew on the technology of the day. The Theatre Newsletter 29 September 1951 observed: 'Leslie Hurry concentrates on the gorgeous and the gruesome, feeling perhaps that the spectacle must be earthbound despite the comets and meteors that flash constantly throughout the great poem. He has certainly devised more forms of locomotion than are dreamed of in London Transport's philosophy. Tyrone Guthrie handles this brilliant and turbulent scene with all his wonted mastery of masses but he can hardly have seen the make-up of his cast in the bright light and close quarters of the forestage.'

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleTamburlaine the Great (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Ink, pencil and crayon on paper mounted on cardboard
Brief description
Costume design by Leslie Hurry for Timor's hat in Christopher Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great directed by Tyrone Guthrie for the Old Vic Company at the Old Vic theatre, London 1951
Physical description
Pen and crayon costume design on paper mounted on cardboard with pencil annotation by Leslie Hurry for Christopher Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great directed by Tyrone Guthrie for the Old Vic Company at the Old Vic Theatre, London 24 September 1951. The design shows a black hat for Timor with a circular red adornment on top and explanatory notes written beneath.
Dimensions
  • Height: 27.2cm
  • Width: 21cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Timor Hat of black fur and velvet bands (or black cloth) on crown (On front side in black ink)
  • A 3 Oscar [Nat?] 1 of (On reverse side in pencil)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Caro Rathbone
Literary referenceTamburlaine the Great
Summary
Costume design by Leslie Hurry for Timor's hat in Christopher Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great directed by Tyrone Guthrie for the Old Vic Company at the Old Vic theatre, London 1951. Timor is an alternative name for Tamburlaine.

This production of Tamburlaine the Great opened on 24 September 1951. Tyrone Guthrie and Donald Wolfit prepared the text, with Wolfit also playing the title role. The music was composed by John Gardner. After its run at the Old Vic the production was presented at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon for the week beginning 29 October 1951.

Sets and costumes were by Leslie Hurry, with Norman Smith serving as his assistant. The production was spectacular and drew on the technology of the day. The Theatre Newsletter 29 September 1951 observed: 'Leslie Hurry concentrates on the gorgeous and the gruesome, feeling perhaps that the spectacle must be earthbound despite the comets and meteors that flash constantly throughout the great poem. He has certainly devised more forms of locomotion than are dreamed of in London Transport's philosophy. Tyrone Guthrie handles this brilliant and turbulent scene with all his wonted mastery of masses but he can hardly have seen the make-up of his cast in the bright light and close quarters of the forestage.'
Collection
Accession number
S.2011-2014

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Record createdAugust 29, 2014
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