Souvenir of Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies as Queen Anne of Bohemia in Richard of Bordeaux
Souvenir
1933 (made)
1933 (made)
| Artist/Maker |
This cut-out figure is a souvenir was created as a pair to the figure of John Gielgud (1904-2000). Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies (1891-1992) played Anne of Bohemia, the first wife of Richard II, in Gordon Daviot's play which opened at London's New Theatre on 2nd February 1933. The reviews for John Gielgud's performance were ecstatic, and made him a star. Reviews for Gwen were less fulsome but the play was a sell-out. It made Gielgud a star and spawned all types of souvenirs, including dolls, handkerchiefs and cigarette boxes stamped with white harts, the emblem of Richard ll.
The mediaeval costumes proved inspirational. The Sketch devoted a page to a photoshoot of puppets dressed as Gielgud and Ffrangcon-Davies in poses from the play, and also produced a faux-medieval fashion spread with Ffrangcon-Davies modelling the two-horned headdress. The play ran for more than 14 months, including a regional tour. After the last performance in a theatre in Golders Green, the police had to be called to keep back the crowd that surged against the stage door.
The mediaeval costumes proved inspirational. The Sketch devoted a page to a photoshoot of puppets dressed as Gielgud and Ffrangcon-Davies in poses from the play, and also produced a faux-medieval fashion spread with Ffrangcon-Davies modelling the two-horned headdress. The play ran for more than 14 months, including a regional tour. After the last performance in a theatre in Golders Green, the police had to be called to keep back the crowd that surged against the stage door.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Souvenir of Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies as Queen Anne of Bohemia in <i>Richard of Bordeaux</i> (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted plywood, wood and card |
| Brief description | Souvenir in the shape of a large toy theatre figure of Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies (1891-1992) as Queen Anne of Bohemia in Richard of Bordeaux by Gordon Daviot, New Theatre, 1933. |
| Physical description | Painted plywood souvenir or large toy theatre figure of Gwen Ffrangcon-Davcies as Queen Anne of Bohemia. She wears a pale green floor-length robe and carries a bouquet of flowers |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Richard of Bordeauxopened at the New Theatre, 2 February 1933. It was written by the author and playwright Elizabeth MacKintosh (1896-1952) who wrote historical novels as Josephine Tey and called herself Gordon Daviot as a dramatist. Inscribed on the back of this figure are the names Elizabeth Montgomery (Wilmot), Sophia Harris (known as Sophie) and M. F.. Harris, (Margaret ‘Percy’ Harris) who were sisters. In the early 1930s the three girls formed the theatre design partnership The Motley Theatre Design Group. The first production they worked on was Romeo and Juliet for the Oxford University Dramatic Society, with John Gielgid as director. Following its success Gielgud invited them to design Richard of Bordeaux for him at the New Theatre in 1933, a production which became a cult hit widely recognised for the beauty and lightness of its design |
| Summary | This cut-out figure is a souvenir was created as a pair to the figure of John Gielgud (1904-2000). Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies (1891-1992) played Anne of Bohemia, the first wife of Richard II, in Gordon Daviot's play which opened at London's New Theatre on 2nd February 1933. The reviews for John Gielgud's performance were ecstatic, and made him a star. Reviews for Gwen were less fulsome but the play was a sell-out. It made Gielgud a star and spawned all types of souvenirs, including dolls, handkerchiefs and cigarette boxes stamped with white harts, the emblem of Richard ll. The mediaeval costumes proved inspirational. The Sketch devoted a page to a photoshoot of puppets dressed as Gielgud and Ffrangcon-Davies in poses from the play, and also produced a faux-medieval fashion spread with Ffrangcon-Davies modelling the two-horned headdress. The play ran for more than 14 months, including a regional tour. After the last performance in a theatre in Golders Green, the police had to be called to keep back the crowd that surged against the stage door. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.393-2019 |
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| Record created | August 29, 2019 |
| Record URL |
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