Not on display

Richard II

Design
1955 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design for a coffin by Leslie Hurry for William Shakespeare's Richard II directed by Michael Benthall for the Old Vic theatre, London 1955.

Leslie Hurry designed sets, costumes and props for this production, which opened on 18 January 1955. It starred John Neville in the title role. Richard II was revived at the Old Vic on 3 July 1956 with a number of cast changes and then toured under the auspices of Sol Hurok to the U.S.A where it was seen in New York in October 1956. Michael Northern served as Technical Assistant to Leslie Hurry. Photographs by Houston Rogers in the V & A's Theatre and Performance collections show the production on stage. Cartoons in the Tatler (2 February 1955) show Bolingbroke, the Duke of York and John of Gaunt.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleRichard II (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Ink, pencil and watercolour on paper
Brief description
Design by Leslie Hurry for a coffin in William Shakespeare's Richard II directed by Michael Benthall for the Old Vic theatre, London 1955
Physical description
Pen and watercolour design on paper with pencil annotation by Leslie Hurry for William Shakespeare's Richard II directed by Michael Benthall for the Old Vic theatre, London 1955. The design shows a grey coffin with a glimpse of a figure inside.
Dimensions
  • Height: 20cm
  • Width: 29cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 12"15'' 15'' 6'3'' Coffin (with a mark of R. II) - also if [feasible?] for [?] [?] (On front side in pencil and black ink)
  • RII (On reverse side in pencil)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Caro Rathbone
Literary referenceRichard II
Summary
Design for a coffin by Leslie Hurry for William Shakespeare's Richard II directed by Michael Benthall for the Old Vic theatre, London 1955.

Leslie Hurry designed sets, costumes and props for this production, which opened on 18 January 1955. It starred John Neville in the title role. Richard II was revived at the Old Vic on 3 July 1956 with a number of cast changes and then toured under the auspices of Sol Hurok to the U.S.A where it was seen in New York in October 1956. Michael Northern served as Technical Assistant to Leslie Hurry. Photographs by Houston Rogers in the V & A's Theatre and Performance collections show the production on stage. Cartoons in the Tatler (2 February 1955) show Bolingbroke, the Duke of York and John of Gaunt.

Collection
Accession number
S.2024-2014

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Record createdSeptember 3, 2014
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