New Accessions Forthcoming Events

Recent highlights include: Public Events Yolanda Sonnabend Archive [Donated by Depicting : Joseph Sonnabend] Museums at Night Margaret Tyzack Archive 16th May 2013 [Donated by Marion Candido]

Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory Archive Doors Open Day [Donated by the company] 14th September 2013 Winter 2012/3 Issue 29

Flora Robson letters [Donated by Richard Purver] MUSEUM’S ACCREDITATION Friends’ Events Shine Exhibition tinsel prints SUCCESS! [Donated by the artists] “The scheme is regarded as one of the Visit to Sands Films, most innovative and effective Susannah York Archive [Donated by developments in the museum sector. It 17th June 2013 tbc Sasha & Orlando Wells] has led the way in raising museum standards” Trip to the Arts Council England THEATRE COLLECTION Theatre Collection MAILINGS Langford Store The Theatre Collection is delighted to

8th July 2013 announce it has been re-awarded Please note: if you have received Accredited Museum Status by Arts Council this newsletter by mail it means that your name and address are stored England. on the Theatre Collection mailing list. These details may be used by Please note that not all the For the Theatre Collection this is a great achievement. It has the Theatre Collection, and also details for these events are held Museum Status since 2001 but the awarding body, Arts more widely by the University of yet available. Please look out Bristol. Should you wish your details Council England, brought in new requirements and a different to be removed from the mailing list, for more details on our web- set of standards in 2011. Being a museum with high standards of please contact us. site, Facebook page and in collections care and which is open to all is at the heart of what we do, but providing the comprehensive documentation to The Director, University of Bristol Theatre Collection, prove this was no small feat. Department of Drama, Cantocks Close, Bristol BS8 1UP Tel: 0117 33 15086 Email: [email protected] This award is one of a number recently made to the Theatre Website: www.bristol.ac.uk/theatrecollection Collection from bodies such as the National Archives Cataloguing Grants Programme (see p.2), Renaissance Small 16 Grants Programme and Noel Coward Foundation.

National Archives Grant chives (under their 2012 Na- Any questions …? Theatre Collection tional Cataloguing Grants Pro- Opening Hours gramme for Archives) to col- lections, such as ours, that

represent some of the most The University of Bristol Theatre fundamental and fascinating Collection has been awarded archival holdings in Britain: the £22,371 by the National records of businesses, families, The Theatre Collection dealt Archives under the latest religious and arts organisations with 248 research enquiries Monday 12.00pm - 4 .45pm round of the National Cata- which are at the heart of un- from May 2012 to December Tuesday to Friday loguing Grants Programme for derstanding significant parts 2012. 9.30 am - 4.45 pm Archives. of our national story.

Subjects of enquiries ranged The grant for the Centre We are closed at weekends Volunteers have already be- from general family history Stage: Backstage project will and on Bank Holidays and gun work on the mammoth enquiries and requests for im- enable 1,500 boxes of archi- University closure days. We task of repackaging the boxes ages of Donald Wolfit and val material from the Mander close for 2 weeks in early Sep- into archival envelopes prior Richard Burton to the Anzac & Mitchenson Collection tember for collections man- to the cataloguer taking up Coves Pierrot Troup and vari- (M&M) to be catalogued to agement and may very occa- post. ous live art artists and perform- file level and made available sionally close for other rea- ances. to the public. sons - please phone us on Refurbishment update 0117 33 15086 or check our We held a number of public M&M was donated, to the website for any forthcoming events, including our regular University's Theatre Collection closure dates. behind the scenes tours for in 2011, thus creating one of groups such as the Bristol Mu- the world's largest collections In order to make the most of seums and Galleries Group dedicated to British theatre your visit to the Theatre Col- and Bristol Old Vic Theatre history. lection, especially as our hold- School and we hosted an ‘In Conversation with Stephanie ings are split across two sites, it is advisable (but not essential) Cole’ event which was ex- The Theatre Collection fully to make an appointment with tremely popular. The Shine re-opened in October 2012 us, either by phone (0117 33 exhibition also generated sev- following refurbishment works. 15086) or email (theatre- eral ‘spin-off’ events and talks. [email protected]). We

Researchers were queuing up can then discuss your require- We had 725 visitors in the to get access to the collec- ments and retrieve any archi- reading room during the tions once again and could val material requested in time Photo: Andy Machals same period. have been forgiven for not for your arrival.

noticing the huge changes We look forward to seeing you

The grant is one of thirteen that had gone on. soon! made by the National Ar-

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One From the Archive... One from the Archive... Changes any visitors will have How the Pictures noticed include a new lick of paint for the reading room, Learnt to Walk 1964, along with other build- and a slight change of layout ings in Park Row for the that means that there is princely sum of £53,500. It later space for a member of staff became home to the Drama to sit in the reading room as a Department. first point of call for any on-site visitors. Drama Dept Update

A digital touch-table that The Theatre Collection cur- brings the experience of pre- rently has two third year un- cinema and early filmmaking Photograph of the Vandyck Building, 1912 dergraduates from the Drama back to cinema audiences (currently the Department of Drama) Dept doing their Independent and museum visitors has been Study placement with us. developed by researchers at This fascinating photograph the University of Bristol and shows the front of the Drama Warren and Ryan are under- UWE, working with Aerian Department, where the Thea- taking basic collection tasks However, the major changes Studios. tre Collection is located! to experience the type of have happened behind the The touch-table enables users work that is required in an ar- scenes, with new air condi- to learn about different tech- This image is dated 28th June chive/museum. tioning systems being installed nologies used to create mov- 1912, and was “taken on the in all our strong rooms. These ing images from the 1830s to occasion of the visit by their They are currently auditing the help us to conform to the best the early C20. Optical devices late Majesties King George V collections in one of our main standards for the storage of like the Zoetrope, the and Queen Mary to open the strong rooms at the Park Row archive and museum collec- Phenakistascope and the Ki- King Edward VII Memorial Infir- site, following the building tions. nora have been digitally rec- mary” (part of the Bristol Royal work last summer, to ensure reated, together with a rich Infirmary). that all our location informa- All this means that we are bet- variety of interchangeable tion is up to date. ter able to care for the imagery from prominent mu- The image shows a large num- collections that we are re- seum collections. ber of people who have Ryan will also be working on sponsible for. The touch-table was on dis- turned out to greet the King scanning items from the Live play at the Theatre Collection and Queen, seen driving past Art Archives, while Warren will earlier in the year before go- in their carriage. be helping with general ad- ing on loan to museums ministrative and data entry across Europe. We are hoping The Vandyck Building was tasks that are essential to the it may come back soon! originally home to the Van smooth running of the Theatre More information can be Dyck Printers and was ac- Collection. found at: http://www.bris.ac.uk/ quired by the University in news/2013/9129.html.

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Live Art News Live Art News New Archives Donations

INTO THE FUTURE: of performances, there are Margaret Tyzack The National Review of tapes of installations, discus- Archive sions and interviews with par- Live Art (1986-2010) Please note that to avoid ex- ticipating artists. Material relating to the life cessive duplication of mate- Video Archive Online and work of Margaret Tyzack rial, we are currently not ac- IS NOW LIVE! Digitising the Archive (OBE) (1931-2011) has been cepting theatre programmes To preserve the NRLA Video donated to the Theatre Col- until we have rationalised our Archive’s fragile formats be- lection by her sister. current holdings of over yond their limited lifespan, a 150,000 programmes. project funded by the Arts Tyzack spent a lifetime on and Humanities Research stage, television and in films, We are also no longer ac- Council (AHRC) Capturing the from training at RADA to her cepting routine donations of Past, Preserving the Future, last appearance on the Lon- books unless they are of par- enabled digitisation of the don stage in 2009. She is per- ticular importance or rele- footage up to 2006. A second haps most well remembered vance to our archival collec- AHRC-funded project, Into the for her roles in the Forsyth tions. Future: Sustainable Access to www.bristol.ac.uk/nrla/online- Saga (1960s) and more re- the National Review of Live archive cently in Eastenders. Art Digital Archive completed

the digitisation, added new A Plea for help ….. The archive contains photo- The Drama Department and data from the final years of graphs, a/v material, scripts, the Theatre Collection are the festival (2007-2010) and reviews and press cuttings Do you enjoy proud to announce the has made the material acces- and various other paperwork sewing? We launch of the NRLA Video Ar- sible online. covering the whole period of are desper- chive Online, as part of the her career. ately in need AHRC-funded Into the Future The NRLA Video Archive web- of volunteers who can help us project. site includes three case stud- make up a variety of archival ies exploring different ap- The Archive bags to store costumes and proaches to the archiving of other items which won’t go The National Review of Live live art online and offers users into boxes. It would be simple Art (NRLA) Video Archive their own workspace to anno- machining and all materials documents performances tate videos and make links provided. More details are from the prestigious NRLA festi- between works both within available from Jo, Bex or val. Presented in over 1,700 and without the archive, pro- Heather. files, the audio-visual footage viding a uniquely valuable

covers the period from 1986, resource to artists, researchers Margaret Tyzack in Phaedre, National Theatre, 2009 We also still need help sorting when the festival was first re- and students of live art and and numbering our extensive corded on film, to its final year contemporary performance. in 2010. As well as recordings programme collection.

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New Archives New Archives Live Art News BBC Your Paintings Online

Shakespeare at the Yolanda Sonnabend Performing Documents Tobacco Factory Design Archive Project Update In December the Public In January, SATTF donated 13 Last year the Theatre Collec- Catalogue years of archive material to tion was donated the archive Foundation the Theatre Collection. of designer Yolanda Sonna- and the BBC The archive comprises dozens bend. completed of files of material from every This project, involving the Live their ambitious production staged by the Yolanda is a well known and Art Archives, is a joint collabo- project to put ration between the University online the Kean as Lear, by company since its inception in highly respected set and cos- William Etty 2000 including props, prompt tume designer, who has of Bristol Drama Department, United King- scripts and photos. worked in theatre, opera and the University of Exeter and dom’s entire film for many decades. She Arnolfini. Successful symposia collection of oil paintings in studied painting and stage covering the first two project public ownership . design at the Slade School of strands Remake (artists using Fine Arts (1955-60), and has and re-using the archives of taught there and at other art others) and Redux (artists re- schools both in the UK and visiting their own archives) abroad. have taken place and the The archive contains designs team is working hard on the

from theatre, ballet and op- final strand, Replace Her First Bouquet, by era productions, dating from (curatorial responses to ar- Charles Green, 1868 1957 (A Blue Rose) to 2012 (a chives) and on preparing for Props include the Goddess production of Cinderella) and the exciting 2 day conference We are delighted to an- Masks from, The Tempest covers locations such as the in April . The project exhibition nounce that the 212,000 (2010) by prop maker Geoff Royal Opera House, Sadler’s Version Control is running at paintings now viewable in- Sims, (pictured above. Photo Wells, the Old Vic, as well as Arnolfini until 14th April 2013 clude 119 paintings from the Graham Burke). and the associated Franko B Theatre Collection!

exhibition runs at the Theatre

Listen to Artistic Director, An- Collection until 12th April (see See the paintings for yourself drew Hilton describing the ar- p. 11). at http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/ chive contents on BBC Radio Further information about the yourpaintings/galleries/ Bristol this morning:http:// project is available on the locations/ .in/10GvC0J (starts at 50 project webpage at university-of- minutes and 24 secs in). http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/ bristol-theatre-

research/performing- collection-7047 Wilcox)The in Tempest

More details are available on by YolandaSonnabend

the SATTF website at documents/ and on Face-

www.sattf.org.uk. Costumefor Miranda design (Toyah book.

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Volunteer News lane. I have only reached the TC Exhibition News TC Exhibition News M’s in this alphabetical cornu- copia so who knows what John Vickers Archive - and disseminate about his amazing discoveries I’ll be Reading Franko B: Update on artistic practice and the con- making and who I’ll be Moments in Love. texts he works in. Volunteer Work meeting during the coming year. The Franko B archive has A vast amount of scanning of been housed at the Theatre the John Vickers photo- So far I have discovered a Collection since 2008, and graphic archive has been un- baby faced Richard Burton in hosts an extensive set of dertaken as the first stage in his first West End performance documents that preserve making these wonderful im- in 1944 - Druid’s Rest by Emlyn documentation of Franko’s ages more accessible. Williams and a very young performance work, from the Richard Pasco in Alec Clunes’ 1980s through to 2008, along- ArenaPAL, the picture agency Hamlet of 1951. Here is Laur- side items of a more bureau- with whom we work, have ence Olivier with ridiculous Franko B, I Miss You, cratic nature, documents of scanned the prints from the moustache and Ruritanian neon, 2002, photo courtesy of his personal life and the wider collection and now a volun- uniform in Arms and the Man Manuel Vason cultural/political context of teer is working on producing in the Old Vic Company War- the time these documents the necessary metadata (see time season at the New Thea- This is the Theatre Collection’s were created. next item). tre. Peter Finch and John Mills first ever exhibition from the in The Damascus Blade at the Live Art Archives and cele- The exhibition will run from the Please note that we do not Bristol Hippodrome appear brates the wonderful array of 14th March to the 12th April have access to these images alongside the Old Vic School documents housed in the 2013 (although closed from yet but we hope to do soon - who in 1948 staged the Kurt Franko B archive. Curated by Friday 29th March to Tuesday so keep an eye out for more Weill musical Down in the PhD researcher Cara Davies, 2nd April). information. Valley. this exhibition is a fragmented The opening times are: narrative of his creative and Monday 12pm to 4pm, Hard Boiled Eggs There are mystery faces too personal histories. Tuesday-Friday 10am to 4pm who presently defy research - by Roger Gregory, volunteer Mary Fyfe, Mlle Gendoline Asking: who is Franko B? What The exhibition is part of Cara’s and Elaine Delamelle, Alfred can we perceive about his PhD practice-led research I am in the early stages of a Deller shot though an aquar- identity through the archive? and is supported by the Uni- project to caption the John ium of fish, George Bander, What relationships does this versity of Bristol’s AHRC- Vickers archive of photo- Valerie and Brigitte Booth provoke between audience, funded project Performing graphs ready to be made (mother and daughter?) document and artist? Why do Documents (http:// available via ArenaPAL. we fall in love with him? The www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/ If you have any information exhibition showcases a di- research/performing- It is not often one has a on any of these people verse range of documents documents/). chance to indulge in such a please do contact the from Franko’s archive, ques- productive trip down memory Theatre Collection. tioning what they embody Cara Davies, PhD student 6 11

TC Exhibition News TC Exhibition News Volunteer News Volunteer News

Shine prints from Mander & Mitchen- Negative Repackaging The exhi- son as suitable partners for the bition display. Everything went to- The repackaging of the glass Shine gether splendidly! plate negatives in the John opened Vickers archive is continuing on No- By the time the exhibition apace. Our volunteer, Liz Bird vember closed on February 28th it had is working away at this on a 26th at been seen by over 500 visitors. weekly basis and also contin- the AGM ues to organise occasional Congratulations to Laura, who of the For this success thanks are “wrapathons” to help with this has been volunteering with us Dog of Montargis Friends, due to the Friends who work. for six months as she has Artist Unknown where I helped with a special Satur- gained a place on the MA gave a day morning opening in De- Liz has calculated that with Archives and Records Man- talk about how the discovery cember; the student newspa- the help of these agement at UCL! We want to of thirty five tinsel prints in the per Epigram which featured a “wrapathons”, the original say a big thank you and wish Mander & Mitchenson Collec- review; and to Dr Catherine estimate of 7 years to com- her all the best in her studies. tion had led to the idea of Hindson for a Guest Lecture plete the repackaging of the inviting local printmakers to on January 31st on the popu- 20,000 glass plates has been As part of the project for the devise work inspired by these lar London stage in the early reduced to 1-2 years! A huge National Cataloguing Grant amazing 19th century pieces. 19th century. Most of all, improvement for a project Scheme (see p.2) that the TC When Jennie Norman and I thanks to my fellow artist print- that Liz is determined to see has received, five volunteers unwrapped eighteen pieces makers and especially to finished. have started repackaging the of work by Louella Frankel those who have donated their M&M reference boxes on Jones, Mary Rouncefield, work to the Theatre Collec- Work has also begun on the Wednesday afternoons, tak- Mary Collett, Diana Favell, tion. repackaging of the celluloid ing the material out of the Theo Wood, Angie Broome, Jo negatives within the John poor quality files and placing Poole, Tessa Henry, Caroline Liz Bird, volunteer Vickers archive - another them into acid-free folders. Case, Elaine Knight, David 20,000 of these are to be Four are brand new volun-

Johnson, and Kimmy Thomson done. Two volunteers are cur- teers!

we were delighted to be able rently working hard on this to find a further nineteen area of the collection. Welcome to another new vol- unteer (previously a member of the Theatre Collection

Management Committee!).

Cathryn is now retired and

Vickers helping with the repackaging

fromthe Gifford Circus. of the John Vickers celluloid

ArtistThomson, Kimmy 2012.

Gray in Grayin Brighton

oughand Dulcie

RichardAttenbor- Rock,photo by John

in the in reading room negatives.

Image:Thomson Mrs as the Girl Bird Parttheof exhibition

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Friends’ News Friends’ News Friends’ Events

FRIENDS AGM 2013 After the success of our events

in 2012 the Friends of the The Friends of the Theatre Col- Depicting Ghosts lection will be holding its AGM Theatre Collection are plan-

on 8th May this year. ning more this year. This year for the first time, the These include a visit to the Theatre Collection (along with Previously the AGM has been Langford Store and pub other museums and collec- held each November but fol- lunch, a Saturday morning tions within the University of lowing a resolution last year, it tour of Bristol Old Vic with our Bristol) will be open for Muse- was agreed to move the Chairman Andrew Stocker, a ums at Night. meetings to the spring; partly visit to Sands Films in London This is a national initiative to avoid asking people to at- including their costume work- which seeks to encourage tend on cold winters’ night, shop and picture research visitors into museums, galleries but also to have a more library, and an evening visit to and heritage sites by throwing timely publi- Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’s their doors open after hours cation of re- Christchurch Studios in Clifton. Costume design for Bassino, Mer- and putting on special eve- ports of the chant of Venice by Julia Trevelyan ning events. previous Oman There will also be opportunities

year’s busi- for us to help when the Thea- The Theatre Collection is hold- ness. tre Collection opens for Muse- ing an event on the theme of This year’s AGM will be pre- ums at Night on 16th May and ghosts in the theatre and will At the AGM ceded by a private viewing of Bristol Doors Open Day on Sat- include a talk by Dr. Cath- in Novem- a new exhibition of some of urday 14th September. Please erine Hindson, a chance to ber, mem- the material held in the Julia look out for further details and look at ghostly material from Ben Johnson oil bers were Trevelyan Oman archive. Stu- book early to avoid disap- the archive and try your hand painting, copy after able to have dents on the MA History of Art pointment. Abraham von at creating ghostly effects.

a close-up course are curating the exhi-

look at the bition of this renowned thea- These events are an excellent painting of Ben Jonson (1572- tre designer’s work. way for us to raise some funds 1637) held in the Mander & to support the Theatre Collec- Mitchenson Collection, which Full details of the AGM are tion and meet other members had been badly damaged at sent separately to Friends of of the Friends. some time in the past. The the Theatre Collection. Friends have given £1,376 to Rosemary Silvester have the painting repaired, Paul Madine, Council member, Friends of and its frame restored and Council member, Friends of the University of Bristol Theatre

protected so that it may be the University of Bristol Theatre Collection Illustrationof Pepper’s Ghost from put on public exhibition. Collection TheM&M Reference box collection

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