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The Tempest; Ordinary Files photographs: Shakespeare Memorial Theatre

Description

Please note: Certain prints contain imagery that may cause offence or distress. Whilst these records were created in keeping with theatrical conventions existing at that time, they do not accord with contemporary practice, nor the views of the RSC and SBT.

SMT Production photos: Prints, relating to the 1897 production of The Tempest. Copyright entitlement continues to exist for these images.

/1 - A real photographic postcard, number 1531, 'Mr F.R. Benson as "Caliban"'. The actor wears Black Face stage make-up.

The photographer is Lizzie Caswall Smith, the publisher is J. Beagles & Co, London. This card is addressed to Miss M. Day, Parkeis [or possibly Parker] Hotel, Naples, Italy. It bears the message 'Thanks for lovely p.c.s [postcards]. Have you this?. Kit [?]'

The card is postmarked Bath, 23/09/1904 and Napoli, 26/09/1904 [?]. The card also bears a numbered stamp '191'.

/2 - Another example of /1 above, number 1531, 'Mr F.R. Benson as "Caliban"'.

This card bears the name F. R. Benson in ink, but it is not clear if this is an autograph by Benson, or an annotation by someone else. At some point the card had been pasted into an album and subsequently removed. The backing paper partially obscures the original handwritten message.

[Note: this card is suffering from light degradation of the image. Unless research is into the material properties of the card, please consult only with card /1 above.]

/3 - A cutting from Windsor Magazine, 1908. One side shows a reproduction of a photograph by [Lizzie] L. Caswall Smith, 'Mr F.R. Benson as Caliban'. The actor wears Black Face stage make-up and is posed holding a fish and striking what may be construed as a threatening or fearful pose.

The reverse of the cutting shows a reproduction of a photograph, again by [Lizzie] L. Caswall Smith, 'Miss Genevieve Ward as Queen Margaret of Anjou' (Richard III - the date 1909 is crossed through, with Lyceum, Irving 1896 pencilled in). This bears the name Genevieve Ward in ink, but it is not clear if this is an autograph by Benson, or an annotation by someone else.

/4 - A modern photographic print, taken from a copy negative made for conservation purposes of the Lizzie Caswall Smith photograph at /3 above, 'Frank Benson as Caliban'.

/5 - A reproduction of a photograph by H.J. Whitlock, 'Miranda in "The Tempest" (Mrs F. R. Benson'. This is autographed 'Yours Truly, Constance Benson'.

  • Finding No

    RSC/PR/3/1/1897/TEM1

  • Date

    1897-1908

  • Extent

    5 items

  • Status

    open

  • Level

    item

  • Associated place

    United Kingdom - England - Warwickshire - Stratford-upon-Avon - Waterside - Shakespeare Memorial Theatre,

    United Kingdom - England - Birmingham,

  • Enquire

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Custodial History

Collected by the RSC and deposited with SBT.

Items /1 /2 /3 and / 5 bear the stamp of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre.

Item /4 is stamped as RST Library. Item/4 is also stamped with accession reference S3734.

Admin History

With the exception of item /4, these were originally contained in private collections (currently unidentified) and later acquired by the SMT.

Item /4 was created by SBT for conservation purposes.