Theatre Costume
1965 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
An Inca mask, designed by Michael Annals for the premiere of Peter Shaffer's epic play, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, by National Theatre Company in 1964. The play tells the story of the Spanish conquest of Peru and the death of the god-king, Atahuallpa. Michael Annals devised a spectacular staging, based on the emblem of the sun, and dressed the Incas in dazzling masks and headdresses. 'We drowned the stage with gold and feathers', said Shaffer. It was a triumph of design which established the 26-year-old Annals as a major talent.
This mask is a good example of the ingenuity of the theatrical costume maker. It is made of moulded resin, painted to resemble metal, and appears to be very heavy, but, in fact, weighs very little.
This mask is a good example of the ingenuity of the theatrical costume maker. It is made of moulded resin, painted to resemble metal, and appears to be very heavy, but, in fact, weighs very little.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 11 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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| Materials and techniques | Resin, metal, wood, gold paint, paint, upholstery studs, pheasant feathers, elastic and foam rubber |
| Brief description | Inca mask, designed by Michael Annals for Peter Shaffer's play, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, National Theatre Company, Chichester Festival Theatre and Old Vic, 1964; ANTA Theatre, New York, 1965 |
| Physical description | High crested half mask of moulded resin on a metal armature, the crest rising to left and right in 'wing' shapes with serrated outer edges. The crest decorated with two stylised eye shapes with large black, wooden, semi-circular pupils and a triangular 'nose' shape, and with metal upholstery studs and pheasant feathers, the eye piece missing. At centre on the 'nose' a metal hook. The resin is painted with gold and brown pigments to suggest beaten metal. The reverse of the mask is padded with foam rubber and there is an elastic headbrace secured by D-hoops and carpet tape. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'Brooks Van Horn & Son' (Label; Reverse) |
| Credit line | Given by Dodger Stage Holding Theatricals Inc |
| Object history | This mask was designed by Michael Annals for the premiere of The Royal Hunt of the Sun, which John Dexter directed for the National Theatre Company in 1964. The production opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre and then transferred to the Old Vic. Following its British success, Dexter re-staged the play for the ANTA Theatre, New York, using the same production team. The masks made for the National Theatre were re-used in the Broadway production. Historical significance: A fortunate survival from a significant theatre production of the 1960s. Peter Shaffer's epic play was the newly established National Theatre Company's first premiere and a major triumph of direction and design. It established the career of Michael Annals, who went on to work extensively at the National Theatre and on Broadway. |
| Summary | An Inca mask, designed by Michael Annals for the premiere of Peter Shaffer's epic play, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, by National Theatre Company in 1964. The play tells the story of the Spanish conquest of Peru and the death of the god-king, Atahuallpa. Michael Annals devised a spectacular staging, based on the emblem of the sun, and dressed the Incas in dazzling masks and headdresses. 'We drowned the stage with gold and feathers', said Shaffer. It was a triumph of design which established the 26-year-old Annals as a major talent. This mask is a good example of the ingenuity of the theatrical costume maker. It is made of moulded resin, painted to resemble metal, and appears to be very heavy, but, in fact, weighs very little. |
| Bibliographic reference | Wengrow, Arnold, Observe and show: the theatre art of Michael Annals, London, V&A Publications, 2003
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| Other number | CONS.10363-2003 - Theatre Museum Conservation Number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.38-2003 |
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| Record created | October 17, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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