Richard Southern (theatre designer)
Encyclopedia
Richard Southern was a British theatre designer and lecturer, best known for his extensive pictorial documentation of historical theatre construction, the Richard Southern Print Collection, comprising some 22,500 visual images..A prolific stage designer and theatre restorer, Southern devoted decades to researching and documenting theatre construction.
Richard Southern was educated at St Dunstan’s College, then at Goldsmith’s Art School and the Royal Academy of Art, where he trained as a designer. Starting out in acting and stage managing, he designed sets for some fifty productions, staged at the Everyman Theatre
, the Cambridge Festival Theatre, and other London
venues.
In 1947, Richard Southern was appointed Theatre Planning Adviser to the Arts Council. His investigation and reconstruction of period theatres and stages included work on Georgian theatres in Richmond, Yorkshire, and King's Lynn, Norfolk. He also took a leading role in the restoration of the first American theatre in Colonial Williamsburg
, Virginia
.
Together with George Speaight and Sybil Rosenfeld, Richard Southern was a founder of the Society for Theatre Research supported by a journal, Theatre Notebook, which he co-edited for nine years.
In 1951, Richard Southern designed the Studio Theatre for the newly formed Drama Department of the University of Bristol
, where he lectured over the following two decades. In 1964, Southern was appointed a director of the Nuffield Theatre
, on whose design he had worked in collaboration with architect Sir Basil Spence
. In the course of his career, Southern planned several modern theatres and stages including the Royal College of Art
(1952), Reading University (1957), Nottingham
(1961) and University College London
(1967). After his retirement in 1969, he participated in the construction of the Globe Theatre
in London, partly based on his earlier models of the Swan Theatre
.
. He was appointed a Visiting Lecturer in 1959, and from 1961 to 1969 was a Special Lecturer in Theatre Architecture.
Richard Southern was educated at St Dunstan’s College, then at Goldsmith’s Art School and the Royal Academy of Art, where he trained as a designer. Starting out in acting and stage managing, he designed sets for some fifty productions, staged at the Everyman Theatre
Everyman Theatre
The Everyman Theatre stands at the north end of Hope Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England. Established in 1964 in a former cinema, it encouraged local talent and played a part in the development of new artistes and writers. The theatre was rebuilt between 1975 and 1977, and was closed again for...
, the Cambridge Festival Theatre, and other London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
venues.
In 1947, Richard Southern was appointed Theatre Planning Adviser to the Arts Council. His investigation and reconstruction of period theatres and stages included work on Georgian theatres in Richmond, Yorkshire, and King's Lynn, Norfolk. He also took a leading role in the restoration of the first American theatre in Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 which made colonial Virginia's capital. The capital straddled the boundary of the original shires of Virginia —...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Together with George Speaight and Sybil Rosenfeld, Richard Southern was a founder of the Society for Theatre Research supported by a journal, Theatre Notebook, which he co-edited for nine years.
In 1951, Richard Southern designed the Studio Theatre for the newly formed Drama Department of the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
, where he lectured over the following two decades. In 1964, Southern was appointed a director of the Nuffield Theatre
Nuffield Theatre
Nuffield Theatre may refer to:* The Nuffield Theatre at the Lancaster University* The Nuffield Theatre at the University of Southampton...
, on whose design he had worked in collaboration with architect Sir Basil Spence
Basil Spence
Sir Basil Urwin Spence, OM, OBE, RA was a Scottish architect, most notably associated with Coventry Cathedral in England and the Beehive in New Zealand, but also responsible for numerous other buildings in the Modernist/Brutalist style.-Training:Spence was born in Bombay, India, the son of Urwin...
. In the course of his career, Southern planned several modern theatres and stages including the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
(1952), Reading University (1957), Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
(1961) and University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
(1967). After his retirement in 1969, he participated in the construction of the Globe Theatre
Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and was destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613...
in London, partly based on his earlier models of the Swan Theatre
Swan Theatre
Swan Theatre may refer to:* The Swan , an Elizabethan playhouse* Swan Theatre , a theatre belonging to the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, England...
.
Teaching activity
Richard Southern was appointed as Technical Lecturer at Goldsmith’s College in 1932 and of the London Theatre Studio in 1937. He was associated with the University of Bristol's Department of Drama since its establishment and delivered a series of annual lectures in the department over a period of four years, funded by the Rockefeller FoundationRockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
. He was appointed a Visiting Lecturer in 1959, and from 1961 to 1969 was a Special Lecturer in Theatre Architecture.
Selected bibliography
- The Medieval Theatre in the Round : a Study of the Staging of 'The Castle of Perseverance' and Related Matters (1975, 2nd ed.)
- The Staging of Plays before Shakespeare (1973)
- The Victorian Theatre : a Pictorial Survey (1970)
- The Seven Ages of the Theatre; with line drawings by the author (1968, 2nd ed.)
- The Georgian Theatre, Richmond, Yorkshire : the story of the theatre (1962)
- On Reconstructing a Practicable Elizabethan Public Playhouse (1959)
- The Dramatic Studio of the University of Bristol = Le Studio Dramatique de l'Université de Bristol (1955)
- The Open Stage and the Modern Theatre in Research and Practice (1953)
- Changeable Scenery : its Origin and Development in the British theatre (1952)
- The Georgian Playhouse (1948)
- Proscenium and Sight-Lines : a Complete System of Scenery Planning and a Guide to the Laying out of Stages for Scene-designers, Stage-managers, Theatre Architects and Engineers (1939)
- Stage-Setting for Amateurs and Professionals (1937)
- The Staging of Eighteenth-century Designs for Scenery (1935)
External links
- Biography on the University of Bristol website
- Obituary published in The Independent
- The Richard Southern Print Collection (includes portrait photo)