A Midsummer Night's Dream
Theatre Costume
1972 (made)
1972 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The costume was worn by Patricia Doyle, who played a Fairy in the world tour of Peter Brook's Royal Shakespeare Company production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and also understudied Titania/Hippolyta.
Brook's A Midsummer Night's Dream originally opened at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, on 27 August 1970. It began a year-long world tour in August 1972, first visiting Europe, then playing in America, Japan and Australia. The production was largely recast for the tour, with Gemma Jones taking over the roles of Titania and Hippolyta from Sara Kestelman. Patricia Doyle had the opportunity to play the parts at the Opera House in Bucharest, Romania, 23-28 October 1972.
Peter Brook's A Midsummer Night's Dream used a bare white box set in which the play's magic was created through circus tricks: the fairies wore simple, brightly coloured, costumes suggested by those of Chinese acrobats and swung in on trapezes. Puck confounded the lovers while balanced on stilts and juggled a spinning plate to represent the magic flower. Brook swept away the theatrical traditions and much of the 'prettiness' that had become associated with the play and, in redefining A Midsummer Night's Dream for the 1970s, exerted an enormous influence on subsequent productions.
Brook's A Midsummer Night's Dream originally opened at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, on 27 August 1970. It began a year-long world tour in August 1972, first visiting Europe, then playing in America, Japan and Australia. The production was largely recast for the tour, with Gemma Jones taking over the roles of Titania and Hippolyta from Sara Kestelman. Patricia Doyle had the opportunity to play the parts at the Opera House in Bucharest, Romania, 23-28 October 1972.
Peter Brook's A Midsummer Night's Dream used a bare white box set in which the play's magic was created through circus tricks: the fairies wore simple, brightly coloured, costumes suggested by those of Chinese acrobats and swung in on trapezes. Puck confounded the lovers while balanced on stilts and juggled a spinning plate to represent the magic flower. Brook swept away the theatrical traditions and much of the 'prettiness' that had become associated with the play and, in redefining A Midsummer Night's Dream for the 1970s, exerted an enormous influence on subsequent productions.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 4 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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| Title | A Midsummer Night's Dream (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Synthetic satin, elastic and plastic buttons (blouse), synthetic linen, synthetic silk, elastic and plastic buttons (trousers), leather and composition sole (shoes) |
| Brief description | Costume for a Fairy in Peter Brook's production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, designed by Sally Jacobs, worn by Patricia Doyle, Royal Shakespeare Company World Tour, 1972-73 |
| Physical description | S.234:1-2002 Long sleeved blouse in silver grey synthetic satin, with round neck. Elasticated at wrists and at lower edge. The blouse fastens down the front with grey opalescent buttons. S.234:2-2002 Pair of straight-legged trousers in silver grey synthetic linen, with fly front button fastened with plastic buttons. Lined with white synthetic silk. To front and back are traces of elastic braces. S.234:3-2002 Right leather pump dyed grey, lined in leather with synthetic sole and inner sock. S.234:4-2002 Left leather pump dyed grey, lined in leather with synthetic sole and inner sock. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Patricia Doyle |
| Object history | Few costumes remain from Peter Brook's legendary production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. According to Patricia Doyle, most were burned at the end of the world tour as Brook felt the production had come to the end of its natural life. |
| Summary | The costume was worn by Patricia Doyle, who played a Fairy in the world tour of Peter Brook's Royal Shakespeare Company production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and also understudied Titania/Hippolyta. Brook's A Midsummer Night's Dream originally opened at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, on 27 August 1970. It began a year-long world tour in August 1972, first visiting Europe, then playing in America, Japan and Australia. The production was largely recast for the tour, with Gemma Jones taking over the roles of Titania and Hippolyta from Sara Kestelman. Patricia Doyle had the opportunity to play the parts at the Opera House in Bucharest, Romania, 23-28 October 1972. Peter Brook's A Midsummer Night's Dream used a bare white box set in which the play's magic was created through circus tricks: the fairies wore simple, brightly coloured, costumes suggested by those of Chinese acrobats and swung in on trapezes. Puck confounded the lovers while balanced on stilts and juggled a spinning plate to represent the magic flower. Brook swept away the theatrical traditions and much of the 'prettiness' that had become associated with the play and, in redefining A Midsummer Night's Dream for the 1970s, exerted an enormous influence on subsequent productions. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.234:1 to 4-2002 |
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| Record created | May 1, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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