Not currently on display at the V&A

Richard II

Design
1955 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design by Leslie Hurry for an arras for William Shakespeare's <i>Richard II</i> 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, crayon, pencil and watercolour on paper
Brief description
Design by Leslie Hurry for an arras for William Shakespeare's Richard II directed by Michael Benthall for the Old Vic theatre, London 1955
Physical description
Pen, crayon 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 golden arras decorated with crowns, alongside sketches of details including a tassel and a crown motif.
Dimensions
  • Height: 41.7cm
  • Width: 29.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
O.P. [opposite prompt] ARRAS Act III - please make construction so that folds in drape are not in any way changed - Curved fall on design important. No! (On front side in black ink)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Caro Rathbone
Literary referenceRichard II
Summary
Design by Leslie Hurry for an arras for William Shakespeare's <i>Richard II</i> 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.2029-2014

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Record createdSeptember 3, 2014
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