Not on display

Poster

1980 (designed), 1980 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This poster advertises the production in November 1980 at the Gate Theatre Club in Notting Hill Gate of The Empire Builders, a play by Boris Vian (1920-1959). The theatre club was started in 1979 by the American director and writer Lou Stein in a room above the Prince Albert Pub in Pembridge Road. Dedicated to producing the best works of foreign writers, by 1981 the Gate established itself as one of London's best fringe venues, along with the King's Head and the Bush. In 1982 the club expanded to include a brand-new custom-built studio theatre above the Latchmere Pub in Battersea.

The French playwright, author, songwriter and singer Boris Vian is perhaps best-known for his 1947 novel L'Ecume des Jours. He also wrote plays in a proto-Absurdist vein, notably this darkly comic play dealing with the culture of fear Les Bâtisseurs d'Empire (1959), about a family and their maid pursued by a terrifying noise within their own home.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Screen print
Brief description
Poster advertising The Empire Builders by Boris Vian, directed by Lou Stein, Gate Theatre, Notting Hall Gate, 2 November 1980.
Physical description
Photographic poster printed in black on yellow paper featuring a reproduction of a Western man in suit and tie and a woman in Moslem dress. The name of the author Boris Vian and the title of the play THE EMPIRE BUILDERS feature in black letterpress in the lower third of the poster, with the names of the translator Simon Watson-Taylor, the designer Jim Daly, the director Lou Stein, the composer Richard Sanders, details of the ticket prices, the nearest tube, and the location of the GATE Theatre Club above the Prince Albert Pub, Pembridge Road, W11.
Dimensions
  • Height: 63.8cm
  • Width: 44.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
Transliteration
Credit line
Given by Lou Stein
Object history
Poster advertising the production at the Gate Theatre, Prince Albert pub, Pembridge Road, Notting Hill Gate, of the play The Empire Builders by Boris Vian translated by Simon Watson-Taylor, directed by Lou Stein, designed by Jim Daly, 22 November 1980.
Summary
This poster advertises the production in November 1980 at the Gate Theatre Club in Notting Hill Gate of The Empire Builders, a play by Boris Vian (1920-1959). The theatre club was started in 1979 by the American director and writer Lou Stein in a room above the Prince Albert Pub in Pembridge Road. Dedicated to producing the best works of foreign writers, by 1981 the Gate established itself as one of London's best fringe venues, along with the King's Head and the Bush. In 1982 the club expanded to include a brand-new custom-built studio theatre above the Latchmere Pub in Battersea.

The French playwright, author, songwriter and singer Boris Vian is perhaps best-known for his 1947 novel L'Ecume des Jours. He also wrote plays in a proto-Absurdist vein, notably this darkly comic play dealing with the culture of fear Les Bâtisseurs d'Empire (1959), about a family and their maid pursued by a terrifying noise within their own home.
Collection
Accession number
S.93-2008

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 2, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSON