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The Motley Theatre Design
Course was formerly known as the Sadler's
Wells Design Course and the Theatre
Design Course of the English National Opera.
In 1966 Stephen Arlen, then Managing
Director of Sadler's Wells Opera, and Margaret 'Percy' Harris,
at that time resident designer of the company, launched the Design Course based
on the approach to design of the Old Vic School where they had both worked under
the direction of Michel St. Denis, Glen Byam Shaw and George Devine. The Course
started in a small room in a house near Sadler's Wells Theatre with eight
students, amongst whom were Hayden Griffin, Carol Lawrence, Susie Caulcutt and
Derek Nicholson, all of whom have made a name in the theatre.
In 1969 the school
moved to a space at the top of Sadler's Wells Theatre. This was taken over
by the Design Course and ran there for a further two years. In 1971 the school
then moved to Camperdown House where it remained under the name and sponsorship
of the English National Opera until 1981 when the sponsorship was withdrawn.
In September 1981 the Course moved to the Riverside Studios, then under the direction
of David Gothard. This move was most advantageous, as the aims and training of
the school were very much in line with the Riverside policies, through which
the Course developed further ideas and flexibility. When this period came to
an end the Course, after some time at the Almeida Theatre and the Royal National
Theatre Studio, became the Motley Theatre Design Course and moved to a warehouse
in Covent Garden, where Alison Chitty joined Margaret Harris and Hayden Griffin
as co-director. In 1994 the Course occupied its present excellent premises in
the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Sadly, in the year 2000, Margaret Harris died at
the age of 95 after 70 years in the profession - 34
of those as founder and director of the Motley Theatre
Design Course. The course continues at Drury Lane under
the directorship of Alison Chitty (O.B.E.), with course
tutors Ashley Martin-Davis and Anthony Lamble. Percy's
vision for the school and her ideas about teaching
and design remain central to the philosophy of the
course. |
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Motley
Theatre Design Course 67 Drury
Lane, London, WC2B 5SP
Phone: 020 7379
4050 Fax: 020
7240 9735 Email: info@motleytheatredesign.co.uk |
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