New Accessions Forthcoming Events

Recent highlights include:

Robertson/Vercoe Volunteer Sessions: Design archive [donated by their daughter, Preservation preparation in Teresa Robertson] the Theatre Collection

David Hughes Live Art Archive A new project for 2010— including Live Art Magazine preservation of the John Vickers [donated by David Hughes] glass plate negatives requires help in creating specialist stor- age for this unique collection. BDD Production Photographs Winter 2009/2010 Issue 22 1999-2009 Tuesday February 9th [in digital format] 10-12.30 Followed by volunteers’ “thank- Additions to the you” lunch—open to all current, Berta Freistadt Archive future and past volunteers [via her executors] Wednesday March 17th Raymond Ingram Collection 2-4.30 [bequeathed] Wednesday April 21st 10-12.30

THEATRE COLLECTION Phone Jo, Bex or Heather on MAILINGS 0117 33 15086 or email theatre-collection@.ac.uk Please note: if you have received this newsletter by mail it means that Tea and biscuits provided! Theatre Collection staff and volunteers pose with colleagues your name and address are stored from the University’s Special Collections for a unique film by on the Theatre Collection contacts This session is open to both exist- Terry Flaxton, a creative research fellow in the Drama Dept. database. These details may be used by the Theatre Collection, ing and new volunteers, there is Made on 20th May 2009 (Charter Day), to mark the 100th and also more widely by the Uni- no commitment following this anniversary of the University receiving its royal charter which versity of Bristol. Should you wish session although we would be granted it university status, the film shows groups of staff and your details to be removed from delighted to have new volun- volunteers reflecting the diversity of the University today and the database, please contact us. teers at any time. had its première at , Bristol on 10th November. In the TC grouping staff and volunteers were filmed, standing The Director, University of Bristol Theatre Collection, still looking at the camera, holding props from the archives. Department of Drama, Cantocks Close, Bristol BS8 1UP The film can be viewed online at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/centenary Tel: 0117 33 15086 Email: [email protected] /look/art/portraits-film.html. Website: www.bristol.ac.uk/theatrecollection Photo courtesy of Terry Flaxton

16 Centenary Celebration Designation Progress (Continued from page 14)

appear together in their play Legacies The Theatre Collection is still Double Vision which they sub- By leaving a gift in your will on target to apply for sequently toured under their Designated Status from the own umbrella (later known as to the University of Bristol Museums Libraries and Show of Strength). Theatre Collection you can 2009 saw the centenary of Archives Council (MLA). help it to grow and ensure the University of Bristol. The In the same year a popular the best care for our collec- University College Bristol first The application process has nautical venue, the Thekla, was tions, so enabling students opened in 1876 but it wasn’t changed recently and the found for a new topical revue, to access this unique re- Hair of the Dog. This came to until May 1909, 32 years Theatre Collection has had source. later, that the King signed the notice of HTV who gave Regardless of its size, your to submit an Intention to the show some air time; the the royal charter giving Bris- legacy will live on forever, Apply form as the first stage, Company was then invited to tol full University status. to ensure that we are London for an early morning and it will make a significant eligible. slot on BBC One. impact on Bristol University The University has cele- generation after genera- brated in a number of ways MLA have now confirmed The following year funding was tion. during 2009, including the we are eligible to apply and secured for a lunchtime season For further .information centenary film shown on the so we will be submitting the at Arnolfini. Three scripts were please contact Jo Elsworth. chosen also a selection of front page, creating a cen- full application in March. tenary garden located out- members’ work for what was now an ever popular House New Procedures side the Wills Memorial Build- The Theatre Collection is revue: each production played ing for use by staff, students intending to apply for for a week; there were some and the public and an Designation for all of its stunning performances from A Reminder …. online exhibition, the cabi- collections, including the Ingrid Hafner and Jill Brassing- net of curiosities, from the ton among others in plays by Live Art Archives, the design It is vital that we keep a re- university collections. collection, personal and Mick Martin and Roy Bartley. cord of people using the company archives and David Foot wrote in the Guas- Theatre Collection There- A new public sculpture by those held on loan. fore, in October 2009, the artist Jeppe Hein was com- rdian: ‘The Cuddy Trap is a notable Theatre Collection intro- missioned and the work, en- Designated status would put advertisement for the emer- duced a new system where titled Follow Me was the Theatre Collection in the gent writing this persevering all external researchers opened in October in the top 5% of non-national company is encouraging...The (including those only using grounds of Royal Fort House. PWC will end their season out collections in the UK for the library) will be asked to of pocket but not short of de- quality and significance. complete a researcher’s This has been a great year served praise.’ form. A visitor’s pass will then for celebrating the past pre- be issued and must be pro- sent and future of the Uni- Marion Reed duced when signing in versity of Bristol. Vice Chair, Playwrights’ Com- pany, 1982-87 each day.

2 15 One From the Archive ... New Archives New Archives A link with Arnolfini led to that gallery kindly allowing monthly The Playwrights’ Company use of one of their rooms. The Berta Freistadt as well information about Council met bi-monthly to se- Archive her teaching. The Playwrights’ Company lect scripts; casts met up for a (PWC) was founded in 1978 by rehearsal in order to do justice Berta also most generously ACH Smith who, having seen to the script-in-hand perform- left a bequest to support his two colleagues, Tom Stop- ance—a commitment much the cataloguing and care pard and Peter Nicholls escape appreciated considering their of her archives and others to London in the sixties, was modest (£5) expenses. In the hoping to nurture a new gen- Berta Freistadt at the Theatre Collection. eration of local writers who might find an outlet for their a Her poetry archive is held at work and choose to remain. The Theatre Collection has the Women’s Library. always been proud to have A Council of Management was amongst its collections the Anne Brooke Barnett duly elected; a director, John Out to Supper work of the lesbian feminist Downey and part-time adminis- playwright Berta Freistadt. trator, Liz Keys appointed. As usual a lot of work went into

Poster for review by the Playwrights Company, c. 1980 At the end of 2009, following securing a start-up grant from Berta’s sad death from SWA and support from inter- same year, 1982, a Women cancer earlier in the year, at ested parties like HTV. Live! Festival was inaugurated the age of 67, the to celebrate women’s work Initially, readings of new work nationwide. A group from the remainder of her theatre were fairly ad-hoc; any writer parent company formed them- archive was delivered to could submit a script for con- selves into Women In Theatre the Theatre Collection by sideration; a reading would be (WIT) West and a season was the executors of her estate. It is with sadness that we inform organised, cast from a pool of celebrated in the summer at local professional actors ready various venues around the city, Berta was well known as an you of the death of Anne to meet the challenge of new including the Hippodrome Bar. actor, playwright, poet, Brooke Barnett, the first Keeper work. After some try-outs of Sheila Yeger’s People for Din- teacher, and short-story of the Theatre Collection. revue material in various ven- ner, Angie Farrow’s Lost Prop- writer and she was well Anne was Keeper from 1966 to ues, in 1981 a full production erty, Susan Carlton’s Linda’s was mounted at 35 King Street: earned high praise in the local know on the London scene 1989. She was a legendary char- Out to Lunch—a topical, satiri- and national press. as a performance poet. acter who developed and cal ‘living newspaper’. Di- shaped the Theatre Collection rected by Paul Unwin, the tal- In 1985 the PWC was invited by The archive held at the ented cast included recent Gill Adams of Made in Wales to Theatre Collection contains for more than two decades. BOVTS graduates Alex Jennings participate in their Write On! her work as a playwright, The funeral will be held at and Tim Bentink, now house- Festival in the Sherman studio in including many scripts, 1.45pm 4th Feb at Canford hold names, working closely Cardiff. Sheila Hannon and research notes and books, Cemetery, Westbury-on-Trym.. with a team of four writers. Nick Thomas were selected to

14 3 New Archives tre Collection (including the Any questions …? Theatre Collection archive), their Opening Hours Robertson/Vercoe work helps to build up com- prehensive picture of work Design Archive at the Bristol Old Vic. The Theatre Collection dealt Other BOV designer ar- with 151 research enquiries 1974 chives in the Theatre Collec- from July to the end of De- tion include John Elvery and cember 2009 and a total of Monday 12.00pm - 4 .45pm Figaro, soon to be donated Gra- 344 for the year. Tuesday to Friday ham Barlow. 9.30 am - 4.45 pm Patrick Robertson design Subjects included: family history enquiries; requests for We are closed at weekends The Theatre Collection has Did You Know …….? reproductions of John Vick- and on Bank Holidays and recently acquired the Rose- ers images, including some University closure days. We mary Vercoe/Patrick The Theatre Collection holds to be used in a BBC produc- close for 2 weeks in early Robertson design archive, the Joyce Grenfell archive - tion; requests to view the September for collections donated by their daughter details can be found on Sarah Kane monologues, management and may very Teresa Robertson. www.bristol.ac.uk/theatrec Bristol Old Vic silver tokens occasionally close for other ollection.search. and images from the origi- reasons - please phone us Robertson and Vercoe were nal for a new production of on 0117 33 15086 or check a design partnership, with Amongst the material are Salad Days. our website for any forth- Robertson undertaking the the words and music to coming closure dates. set design and Vercoe the many of Grenfell’s songs. We also had 722 visitors in costume design. They often However, we can only pro- the Reading Room during In order to make the most of worked together on pro- vide copies for private re- the same period. This in- your visit to the Theatre Col- ductions, especially at the search purposes. cluded group visits from The lection archives, it is advis- Bristol Old Vic in the 1950s. Matcham Society, Portis- able (but not essential) to If you intend to perform the head Townswomen’s Guild, make an appointment with This archive contains a num- song, written permission is the cast of BOV’s Uncle us, either by phone (0117 33 ber of set models, designs, needed from the copyright Vanya, and Bristol Old Vic 15086) or email (theatre- photographs, slides and holders for both Joyce Theatre School. [email protected]). other ma- Grenfell’s estate (words) We can then discuss your terial. and Richard Addinsell or Researchers are also en- requirements and retrieve William Blezard (music), vari- couraged to use our online any archival material re- Alongside ous publishers and re- search facility: quested in time for your arri- other ar- cording companies. You www.bristol.ac.uk/theatrec val.

NT, 1974 chives also need to contact the ollection as a first point of We look forward to held at Performing Rights Society for reference. seeing you soon! Figaro the Thea- a licence to perform.

4 13 Can you help? LMLAG Conference Working with Students Working with Students

Earlier this year, the London With the start of new aca- lighted that a large number Museum Librarians and Ar- demic term, the Theatre of the students chose this chivists Group (LMLAG) held Collection has been busy option and enjoyed using a conference at the Na- working with academics the archives. tional Gallery entitled ‘Not and students in the Drama Museum Pieces? The devel- and English departments to Meanwhile 2nd year stu- oping role of archivists and show them the potential of dents have been using the librarians in museums’. the collections in the TC and John Vickers archive as in- how it can relate to their spiration to create their own Jo Elsworth, Director of the study. Film Noir inspired piece Little Theatre Collection, was in- Sister. vited to give a talk for the As usual, introductory tours session on Special Collec- have been given to all 1st This portrait was drawn by tions. years and post-graduate Paule Vezelay (born Majorie students. These involve an Watson Williams in Clifton, Jo’s talk was entitled introduction in the Reading Bristol) in 1913. She is best ‘Engaging with the archive: Room, followed by a ‘show known as Britain’s first and the experience of a univer- and tell’ look round the

foremost abstract artist but sity museum’ and indicated strong-rooms to let the stu- Poster produced by 2nd yrs For Perf2 her work also included por- the unique position that the dents know the range of traits and theatre scenes. Theatre Collection holds material we have, and how The MA Performance Re- amongst other museums. they can make use of the search students are also The Theatre Collection is try- archives and other specialist using the archives heavily ing to establish who this is The Theatre Collection is an material held here - some- for their studies, and their and while we have an idea Accredited Museum which thing that no other university recently presented their we would welcome your sits within a university aca- Drama Department has. findings on a diverse range thoughts. demic department, where of archives including Live its main holdings are archi- This year, 3rd year students Art, Don Juan, and Inigo Any evidence to substanti- val. have also been given the Jones. ate your ideas would also option of working more be most welcome. The presentation was very closely with one of three In addition, we have three well received and one of productions detailed in the PhD students who are bas- Please contact Jo, Bex or the case studies given has collection for an assessed ing their theses on artists Heather on: theatre- been written up and in- piece of work; Charge of and material held within the [email protected] or cluded in the National Ar- the Light Brigade (film), Theatre Collection’s Live Art 0117 331 5086. chives publication Archives Tenko (TV) or Look Back in Archives. Thank you for your help. Sector Update Winter 2009. Anger (theatre). We are de-

12 5 Live Art Archives News Live Art Archives News Society of Archivists Oral History Project SW Region AGM The David Hughes THE NRLA CELEBRATES This project looks Live Art Archive 30 YEARS! to record the memories of those involved in the theatre, whose memories may otherwise be The Theatre Collection is to lost forever, and host the Society of Archivists aims to: The Theatre Collection is de- Wednesday 17th to South West region AGM in lighted to report that we Sunday 21st March 2010 March 2010.  Build up an oral history have recently acquired the archive to compliment the David Hughes Live Art Ar- The NRLA reaches a very This will give an opportunity collections held here; chive, incorporating LiveArt special landmark in its his- to all who work within the  Provide an enhanced Magazine, LiveArt Listings, tory when it celebrates its archive sector in the South research resource; and Hybrid Magazine. thirtieth festival in March West region (and beyond)  Provide an alternative to visit the Theatre Collec- 2010. This special edition fes- way for our supporters to Set up by David in 1994, this tion, have a tour, and hear tival will present a pro- contribute to the develop- collection comprises some more about the work that gramme of work by artists ment of the Theatre Collec- 120 large boxes of material we do. who have been a part of tion. in various formats, and holds that wonderful history. documents, images and art This will take place along- Want to get involved? works related to Live Art in Over the last few months, side the business meeting Britain from 1978. It is a valu- the Theatre Collection has for the region. able addition to the Live Art been busy assisting with the We need help to conduct Archives resources, compli- supply of film footage, im- This is a good chance to interviews, transcribe re- menting the existing ar- ages and other information show others within the heri- cordings, or even financially chives such as the National for the production of a lim- tage world what we do so sponsor an interview. We Review of Live Art Archive ited edition boxed set of well and to make them are also keen to interview and the Record of Live Art DVDs , and an illustrated more aware of the collec- those involved in the thea- Practice. book to accompany the tions. tre in any way. festival. Visit the New Moves web The Theatre Collection be- More details can be found pages at http:// lieves that it is important to at www.bristol.ac.uk/ www.newmoves.co.uk/ partake fully in the cultural theatrecollection/ oral_history_leaflet.html. national-review-of-live-art heritage sector in the South for further information. West in this way.

6 11 TC Exhibition News TC Exhibition News Live Art Archives News Live Art Archives News

The Life and Work of nold’s appearance on This Is Your Life, and an arm band websites in the Live Art Col- lection includes organiza- Arnold Ridley from the Dad’s Army televi- sion series. tions supporting and pro- moting Live Art; artists’ web- sites; artistic or project- driven sites; blogsites and online spaces for critical re- views and commentaries; The Theatre Collection is and online archival sites re- pleased to announce that lating to Live Art. the Live Art Archives web

Arnold Ridley at the Prince of Wales pages have been selected The Live Art Collection re- to be included in the Live flects some of the diverse Programme for ’ The Ghost Train’ Art Collection, which is part practices and approaches Arnold Ridley, OBE (1896- of the UK Web Archive. The exhibition seeks to show of artists today and the cu- 1984), the British playwright all sides to Ridley’s life and ratorial, cultural and critical and actor, is probably best The Live Art Collection was work—including those of frameworks that exist to sup- remembered as author of initiated in late 2008 and is soldier, actor and play- port, promote and com- the play The Ghost Train, maintained by the British wright. ment upon Live Art and the and for his roles of Private Library in collaboration with ephemeral nature of this Godfrey in Dad's Army and the Live Art Development The exhibition is open now area of practice. Doughy Hood in the radio Agency, London. The UK and will run until February. soap The Archers. Web Archive is a corpus of Simply come to the Theatre The collection is free to ac- websites selected by lead- Collection Park Row en- cess and can be viewed by This exhibition seeks to cele- ing UK institutions for their trance and press the buzzer visiting the online portal at brate Arnold Ridley’s prodi- historical, social and cultural for free admission. http://www.webarchive.org gious life and work by show- significance in the UK, for .uk/ukwa/collection/263127 casing a small amount of the benefit of researchers. 82/page/1 the material from his ar- chive, which is held in the Snapshots of each title, Theatre Collection. known as instances, are taken at suitable intervals. The exhibition also includes The archive is free to view items on loan from Nicolas and has already collected Ridley, Arnold’s son, and so over 4,000 selected web- never seen before, includ- sites since it was set up in ing the ‘Red Book’ from Ar- Arnold Ridley, c.1970s mid-2005. The range of

10 7 Volunteer News Volunteer News Friends News Friends News

repackaging, listing and Friends AGM Public Lecture: identifying the photographs 30th November 2009 in the National Student Drama Festival archive; On the evening of 30th No- vember this year, the Thea- The Theatre Collection Vol- Tracey - is sorting, re-boxing tre Collection once again unteers have been busy and listing the RLAP mate- hosted the AGM of its Godfrey’s Ghost: working on a number of rial. Friends Association. from father to son projects throughout this year, for which we are very Of course, a large number There The latest Theatre Collection grateful - here are a few of of volunteers have contin- was an exhibition (please see over) the tasks new volunteers are ued to number and sort the excellent opened on 19th November undertaking: hundreds of programmes turn out to coincide with a public which we receive each to hear lecture organised by our year, helping to make this

Alessandra - a Volunteer Emma Stenning Emma Friends Association. with an Art History back- wonderful resource accessi- Photo: Toby Farrow Stenning, ground, is undertaking pic- ble. the new This lecture was given by ture research on a number Executive Director at the Nicolas Ridley, son of Arnold of the pieces of artwork in Bristol Old Vic. She spoke Ridley, playwright and actor the collection, collating de- Volunteer Sessions about her career to date subject of the new exhibi- tailed information and cata- and why she had wanted to tion and of a new book by loguing them; Preservation Work work at the Bristol Old Vic Nicolas. specifically. Charlotte - a Volunteer with A new project for 2010— Nicolas talked about his fa- an information background, preservation of the John Vickers She also talked about the ther and his life growing up; is looking for archive experi- glass plate negatives requires way in which she and Tom looking at memory and the help in creating specialist stor- ence and so will be helping Morris (the new Artistic Di- archive. It was a huge suc- age for this unique collection. on a number of projects rector) worked and what cess with over 90 people within the Theatre Collec- February 9th 10am-12.30pm they were planning for the attending and a lively ques- tion, prior to pursuing a ca- March 17th 2pm-4.30pm next year and beyond for tion and answer session. reer in archives; April 21st 10am-12.30pm the theatre. The book Godfrey’s Ghost: Rosemary - is working on Phone Jo, Bex or Heather on The business meeting went from father to son is a testi- sorting out the programmes 0117 33 15086 or email smoothly with the accounts mony and unconventional for the Theatre Royal, Bath; [email protected] being accepted and Com- biography based on mem- mittee Members being re- ory and the material in the Tim - a Drama student, is elected to the same posts. Theatre Collection archive.

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