Not on display

Preliminary groundplan for Greenwich Theatre

Preliminary Theatrical Groundplan
20th century (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Preliminary groundplan by Voytek for a permanent setting for Greenwich Theatre, showing how the set could be used for productions of The Maid's Tragedy and The Government Inspector, twentieth century. These productions never took place.

Dubbed Voytek by George Devine, Wojciech Roman Pawel Jerzy Szendzikowski (1925-2014), was known for his distinctive designs for the stage, theatre and film. Drawing his elaborate designs from in depth analysis of each script or screenplay.
Winning the Military Cross for his role in the Second World War, Voytek transferring first to Italy and then to Scotland after the end of the war where he enrolled at the Dundee Art Collage. In 1947 he moved to London, becoming a student of stage design at the Old Vic Theatre School. His career as a stage set and costume designer began with the Nottingham Playhouse whist his work on TV drama began with ABC Television and on film with Roman Polanski’s Cul-de-Sac.
His theatrical works concentrated on major regional theatre and touring companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Nottingham Playhouse, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Shared Experience; he was head of design at the Liverpool Playhouse from 1981-1982.

The collection this design is from also contains working drawings, model pieces, photograph, production notes as well as press cuttings and programmes relating to Voytek’s career as a production designer for the stage, television and film.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePreliminary groundplan for Greenwich Theatre (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Ink on paper
Brief description
Preliminary groundplan by Voytek for a permanent setting for Greenwich Theatre, showing how the set could be used for productions of The Maid's Tragedy and The Government Inspector, twentieth century
Physical description
Ink on paper preliminary groundplan by Voytek for a permanent setting for Greenwich Theatre, showing how the set could be used for productions of The Maid's Tragedy and The Government Inspector, twentieth century. The plan is marked with different sections of the theatre and stage, including a large circle drawn in a dotted line.
Dimensions
  • Width: 83.5cm
  • Height: 59cm
Marks and inscriptions
STORAGE AREA. GANTRY OVER. GET OFF. Adjusted to needs of individual productions. GET OFF. Ros. Ros. GALLERY +12' OR MORE LEVELS AS NECESSARY. ENTRANCES & OPENINGS TO BE WORKED OUT. ARCH OVER. TRAP AREAS CL. REMOVE 1 ROW OF SEATS. ? 6" STEP 6" STEP +1'9" +2'3" +2'9. ALTERNATIVE. +1' step REMOVE 1 ROW OF SEATS. GALLERY OVER GREENWICH THEATRE SUGGESTED PERM. SET. HIDDEN [DEAP?] & EFFECTS AREAS IT IS SUGESTED [sic] THAT THE PERMANENT "WALL" IS TO BE TREATED AS A BACK [BALL?] OF THE THEATRE. (AT LEAST FOR THE 1ST 3. SHOWS.) TREATMENT BRICK & CONCRETE TO MATCH THE WALLS OF THE THEATRE. (On front in black ink)
Credit line
Given by the artist
Summary
Preliminary groundplan by Voytek for a permanent setting for Greenwich Theatre, showing how the set could be used for productions of The Maid's Tragedy and The Government Inspector, twentieth century. These productions never took place.

Dubbed Voytek by George Devine, Wojciech Roman Pawel Jerzy Szendzikowski (1925-2014), was known for his distinctive designs for the stage, theatre and film. Drawing his elaborate designs from in depth analysis of each script or screenplay.
Winning the Military Cross for his role in the Second World War, Voytek transferring first to Italy and then to Scotland after the end of the war where he enrolled at the Dundee Art Collage. In 1947 he moved to London, becoming a student of stage design at the Old Vic Theatre School. His career as a stage set and costume designer began with the Nottingham Playhouse whist his work on TV drama began with ABC Television and on film with Roman Polanski’s Cul-de-Sac.
His theatrical works concentrated on major regional theatre and touring companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Nottingham Playhouse, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Shared Experience; he was head of design at the Liverpool Playhouse from 1981-1982.

The collection this design is from also contains working drawings, model pieces, photograph, production notes as well as press cuttings and programmes relating to Voytek’s career as a production designer for the stage, television and film.
Other number
THM/153 (Voytek Archive) - Archive number
Collection
Accession number
S.1516-1994

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Record createdOctober 15, 2014
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