Architectural Drawings Theatre Boxes 1977
Title
Architectural Drawings Theatre Boxes 1977
Date
1977
Description
A set of architectural drawings of the box fronts for the refurbished Theatre Royal showing the colour coding for the paint and plasterwork by Clare Ferraby, theatre designer.
What's the story?
Born in Leeds in 1938 and trained at the Manchester School of Art, Clare Ferraby has decorated and restored the interiors of some of the UK’s greatest theatres, including the recent massive refurbishment of the Victoria Palace in London.
Ferraby started as a freelance designer in London in 1963 when she was 25, and married Nicholas Thompson, a young architect, who went on to become a leading light of the theatre architect's practice RHWL three years later.
RHWL was commissioned to oversee the rebuilding of the Theatre Royal in the 1970s, following the success of projects at Sheffield Crucible and Warwick Arts Centre.
In a recent interview for The Stage Clare spoke of her craft:
“I’ve always looked at the history of the theatres I’ve worked on. It is important for me to have a feeling for the soul of the building before I develop new ideas. Every theatre has its own distinctive soul. With the older buildings, I look at the detail to understand the original designer’s intention.
The great Victorian theatre architects Matcham, Sprague and Phipps wanted to get everything right and I understand that. You want everything to fall into place and fit together, like a painting.”
As part of the Theatre Royal’s heritage work Nick Thompson & Clare Ferraby kindly loaned us items from their private collection revealing their work on the Theatre Royal.
These drawings show her colour plans for the plaster and paint on the fronts of the boxes in the refurbished theatre. Her green palette was controversial at the time and she was advised by the theatre designer, Iain McIntosh to vary the range with a contrasting colour.
Ferraby started as a freelance designer in London in 1963 when she was 25, and married Nicholas Thompson, a young architect, who went on to become a leading light of the theatre architect's practice RHWL three years later.
RHWL was commissioned to oversee the rebuilding of the Theatre Royal in the 1970s, following the success of projects at Sheffield Crucible and Warwick Arts Centre.
In a recent interview for The Stage Clare spoke of her craft:
“I’ve always looked at the history of the theatres I’ve worked on. It is important for me to have a feeling for the soul of the building before I develop new ideas. Every theatre has its own distinctive soul. With the older buildings, I look at the detail to understand the original designer’s intention.
The great Victorian theatre architects Matcham, Sprague and Phipps wanted to get everything right and I understand that. You want everything to fall into place and fit together, like a painting.”
As part of the Theatre Royal’s heritage work Nick Thompson & Clare Ferraby kindly loaned us items from their private collection revealing their work on the Theatre Royal.
These drawings show her colour plans for the plaster and paint on the fronts of the boxes in the refurbished theatre. Her green palette was controversial at the time and she was advised by the theatre designer, Iain McIntosh to vary the range with a contrasting colour.
Type
Architectural Drawings
Location of item
Private Collection - Nick Thompson & Clare Ferraby
Rights
Private Collection - Nick Thompson & Clare Ferraby
Contributor
Researcher - June Ellerby
Format
29.6 x 20.1 cm
33 cm x 20.4 cm
33 cm x 20.4 cm
