Richard II
Theatre Design
1972 (made)
1972 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Costume design by Michael Annals for Ronald Pickup in the title role of Shakespeare's play Richard II, National Theatre Company at the Old Vic, 1972.
Michael Annals (1938-1990) trained at Hornsey College of Art and began his career designing sets and costumes for the Old Vic. In 1963 the newly formed National Theatre Company moved into the Old Vic and Annals joined them, having his first major success with his designs for Peter Shaffer's historical epic, The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1964). He went on to have an international career, designing for the theatre and for ballet, opera and film, but is most closely associated with the National Theatre, where he created notable settings for a range of productions, including O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night starring Laurence Olivier, Hecht and MacArthur's The Front Page and Shaw's Heartbreak House. Annals frequently worked in the United States and was Associate Professor of Scenic Design at Yale in 1966-1967. In 1984 he gave up the stage and took up photography and illustration.
Richard II, directed by David William, was set in a medieval world dominated by the king's symbol of a sun and a flight of steps shaped like a relief map of England. Irving Wardle, writing in The Times (30 March 1972), described Pickup's Richard as 'a shaky convert to the royal myth. Surrounded by ceremonies and flattery he has complete belief in his authority. But as soon as the externals start crumbling, so does his inner conviction.'
Michael Annals (1938-1990) trained at Hornsey College of Art and began his career designing sets and costumes for the Old Vic. In 1963 the newly formed National Theatre Company moved into the Old Vic and Annals joined them, having his first major success with his designs for Peter Shaffer's historical epic, The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1964). He went on to have an international career, designing for the theatre and for ballet, opera and film, but is most closely associated with the National Theatre, where he created notable settings for a range of productions, including O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night starring Laurence Olivier, Hecht and MacArthur's The Front Page and Shaw's Heartbreak House. Annals frequently worked in the United States and was Associate Professor of Scenic Design at Yale in 1966-1967. In 1984 he gave up the stage and took up photography and illustration.
Richard II, directed by David William, was set in a medieval world dominated by the king's symbol of a sun and a flight of steps shaped like a relief map of England. Irving Wardle, writing in The Times (30 March 1972), described Pickup's Richard as 'a shaky convert to the royal myth. Surrounded by ceremonies and flattery he has complete belief in his authority. But as soon as the externals start crumbling, so does his inner conviction.'
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Richard II (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour, crayon and ink on paper |
| Brief description | Costume design by Michael Annals for the title character in Shakespeare's play Richard II, National Theatre Company at the Old Vic, 1972 |
| Physical description | Full length crowned male figure wearing a floor-length white robe with attached cape at shoulders. He hold his hands out to his sides with the robe gathered across his arms so that the white floor-length under-robe is visible. Signed and dated. Mounted. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Summary | Costume design by Michael Annals for Ronald Pickup in the title role of Shakespeare's play Richard II, National Theatre Company at the Old Vic, 1972. Michael Annals (1938-1990) trained at Hornsey College of Art and began his career designing sets and costumes for the Old Vic. In 1963 the newly formed National Theatre Company moved into the Old Vic and Annals joined them, having his first major success with his designs for Peter Shaffer's historical epic, The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1964). He went on to have an international career, designing for the theatre and for ballet, opera and film, but is most closely associated with the National Theatre, where he created notable settings for a range of productions, including O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night starring Laurence Olivier, Hecht and MacArthur's The Front Page and Shaw's Heartbreak House. Annals frequently worked in the United States and was Associate Professor of Scenic Design at Yale in 1966-1967. In 1984 he gave up the stage and took up photography and illustration. Richard II, directed by David William, was set in a medieval world dominated by the king's symbol of a sun and a flight of steps shaped like a relief map of England. Irving Wardle, writing in The Times (30 March 1972), described Pickup's Richard as 'a shaky convert to the royal myth. Surrounded by ceremonies and flattery he has complete belief in his authority. But as soon as the externals start crumbling, so does his inner conviction.' |
| Bibliographic reference | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.174-2015 |
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| Record created | October 27, 2015 |
| Record URL |
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