Margaret Harris
Encyclopedia
Margaret Frances Harris was an English theatre and opera costume
and scenic design
er.
, the fourth child and second daughter of William Birkbeck Harris, a Lloyds Insurance clerk, and his wife Kathleen Marion, née Carey. With her older sister Sophie Harris
she studied at The Chelsea Illustrators Studio in London in the late 1920s. A fellow student was Elizabeth Montgomery Wilmot
, and the three formed a theatre design partnership known as Motley Theatre Design Group
.
for the Oxford University Dramatic Society
(OUDS), John Gielgud
's debut as a director. The great success of this led to an invitation from Gielgud to design Gordon Daviot's Richard of Bordeaux, which opened at the New Theatre in St Martins Lane, London, in February 1933. The production was a huge success, achieving cult status, with playgoers queuing round the block every night. It is widely recognised that the success was partly owing to the Motley sets and costumes, which captured the essence of the period in an artistic rather than a slavishly historical sense, and were much admired for their beauty and lightness. This early recognition led to a busy and highly successful decade during which they became Gielgud's regular collaborators, working with him on such productions as his celebrated Romeo and Juliet
(1935), in which he alternated the parts of Romeo and Mercutio with Laurence Olivier
,and his Hamlet
of 1936. They also formed a partnership with the celebrated French director Michel Saint-Denis
, whose production of André Obey
's Noah, starring Gielgud in the title role, they designed in 1935. Saint Denis went on to found The London Theatre Studio (1936–1939), a radical new theatre school which incorporated courses in theatre design taught by the Motleys. This was the first time theatre design had been taught within a drama school in the UK, and their students included Jocelyn Herbert
. In addition to their teaching and theatre work, the Motleys also opened a couture house in 1936.
At the beginning of World War II , Margaret Harris and Elizabeth Montgomery travelled to the USA to design a production of Romeo and Juliet for Laurence Olivier. They stayed in America until the end of the war, designing numerous successful productions on Broadway
. Margaret Harris also worked for a time with the furniture designer Charles Eames on his moulded plywood airplane parts.
Returning to England in 1946, Margaret Harris and her sister Sophie taught theatre design at the newly-founded Old Vic Theatre School, which had been set up by Michel Saint-Denis
, George Devine
and Glen Byam Shaw
. Following the closure of the school in 1948, the Motleys continued to design extensively for both opera (at London's Sadler's Wells Theatre
and English National Opera
) and theatre. Their work at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre was much admired throughout the 1950s. In the early days of Devine's newly founded English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre
(founded 1956), the Motleys designed numerous productions. Margaret Harris became Head of Design at Sadler's Wells Opera in 1962.
In 1966, after the death of her sister Sophie, Harris founded The Motley Theatre Design Course
, a one-year post-graduate level course which continues to this day, now under the directorship of Alison Chitty
. She continued to design, mostly for the English National Opera, until the late 1970s, and remained as the director of the Motley Theatre Design Course until a few months before her death in 2000, just two weeks before her 96th birthday.
Costume design
Costume design is the fabrication of apparel for the overall appearance of a character or performer. This usually involves researching, designing and building the actual items from conception. Costumes may be for a theater or cinema performance but may not be limited to such...
and scenic design
Scenic design
Scenic design is the creation of theatrical, as well as film or television scenery. Scenic designers have traditionally come from a variety of artistic backgrounds, but nowadays, generally speaking, they are trained professionals, often with M.F.A...
er.
Early years
Harris was born in Hayes, KentHayes, Bromley
Hayes is a place in the London Borough of Bromley, south-east London, England. It has two main areas of activity: the ancient village and suburban Hayes.-The ancient village of Nimrods :...
, the fourth child and second daughter of William Birkbeck Harris, a Lloyds Insurance clerk, and his wife Kathleen Marion, née Carey. With her older sister Sophie Harris
Sophie Harris
Audrey Sophia “Sophie” Harris was an English award winning theatre and opera costume and scenic designer.-Biography:...
she studied at The Chelsea Illustrators Studio in London in the late 1920s. A fellow student was Elizabeth Montgomery Wilmot
Elizabeth Montgomery Wilmot
Elizabeth Montgomery Wilmot was an English award winning theatre and opera costume and scenic designer.-Biography:...
, and the three formed a theatre design partnership known as Motley Theatre Design Group
Motley Theatre Design Group
Motley was the name of the theatre design firm made up of three English designers, sisters Margaret Harris and Sophie Harris , and Elizabeth Montgomery Wilmot . The name derives from the word 'Motley' as used by Shakespeare...
.
Career
The first full-scale production on which they worked was Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
for the Oxford University Dramatic Society
Oxford University Dramatic Society
The Oxford University Dramatic Society is the principal funding body and provider of theatrical services to the many independent student productions put on by students in Oxford, England...
(OUDS), John Gielgud
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor, director, and producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
's debut as a director. The great success of this led to an invitation from Gielgud to design Gordon Daviot's Richard of Bordeaux, which opened at the New Theatre in St Martins Lane, London, in February 1933. The production was a huge success, achieving cult status, with playgoers queuing round the block every night. It is widely recognised that the success was partly owing to the Motley sets and costumes, which captured the essence of the period in an artistic rather than a slavishly historical sense, and were much admired for their beauty and lightness. This early recognition led to a busy and highly successful decade during which they became Gielgud's regular collaborators, working with him on such productions as his celebrated Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
(1935), in which he alternated the parts of Romeo and Mercutio with Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM was an English actor, director, and producer. He was one of the most famous and revered actors of the 20th century. He married three times, to fellow actors Jill Esmond, Vivien Leigh, and Joan Plowright...
,and his Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
of 1936. They also formed a partnership with the celebrated French director Michel Saint-Denis
Michel Saint-Denis
Michel Saint-Denis , dit Jacques Duchesne, was a French actor, theater director, and drama theorist whose ideas on actor training have had a profound influence on the development of European theater from the 1930s on.Michel Saint-Denis was born in Beauvais, France, the nephew of Jacques Copeau, who...
, whose production of André Obey
André Obey
André Obey was a prominent French playwright during the inter-war years, and into the 1950s....
's Noah, starring Gielgud in the title role, they designed in 1935. Saint Denis went on to found The London Theatre Studio (1936–1939), a radical new theatre school which incorporated courses in theatre design taught by the Motleys. This was the first time theatre design had been taught within a drama school in the UK, and their students included Jocelyn Herbert
Jocelyn Herbert
Jocelyn Herbert RDI was a highly influential British stage designer.-Early life:Born in London, she was the second of the four children of the playwright, novelist, humorist and parliamentarian A. P. Herbert . Through him she had contact with theatre people, artists and writers...
. In addition to their teaching and theatre work, the Motleys also opened a couture house in 1936.
At the beginning of World War II , Margaret Harris and Elizabeth Montgomery travelled to the USA to design a production of Romeo and Juliet for Laurence Olivier. They stayed in America until the end of the war, designing numerous successful productions on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
. Margaret Harris also worked for a time with the furniture designer Charles Eames on his moulded plywood airplane parts.
Returning to England in 1946, Margaret Harris and her sister Sophie taught theatre design at the newly-founded Old Vic Theatre School, which had been set up by Michel Saint-Denis
Michel Saint-Denis
Michel Saint-Denis , dit Jacques Duchesne, was a French actor, theater director, and drama theorist whose ideas on actor training have had a profound influence on the development of European theater from the 1930s on.Michel Saint-Denis was born in Beauvais, France, the nephew of Jacques Copeau, who...
, George Devine
George Devine
George Alexander Cassady Devine CBE was an extremely influential theatrical manager, director, teacher and actor in London from the late 1940s until his death. He also worked in the media of TV and film.-Biography:...
and Glen Byam Shaw
Glen Byam Shaw
Glen Byam Shaw was an English actor and theatre director, known for his dramatic productions in the 1950s and his operatic productions in the 1960s and later....
. Following the closure of the school in 1948, the Motleys continued to design extensively for both opera (at London's Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington. The present day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500 seat main auditorium and the Lilian Baylis Studio, with extensive...
and English National Opera
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
) and theatre. Their work at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre was much admired throughout the 1950s. In the early days of Devine's newly founded English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
(founded 1956), the Motleys designed numerous productions. Margaret Harris became Head of Design at Sadler's Wells Opera in 1962.
In 1966, after the death of her sister Sophie, Harris founded The Motley Theatre Design Course
Motley Theatre Design Course
Motley Theatre Design Course is a one-year independent theatre design course in London. It was founded at Sadler's Wells Opera in 1966.- Sadler's Wells Opera & English National Opera:...
, a one-year post-graduate level course which continues to this day, now under the directorship of Alison Chitty
Alison Chitty
Alison Chitty OBE is an Olivier Award winning production designer and set and costume designer, known for her collaborations with Mike Leigh, Francesca Zambello and Sir Peter Hall. She is also the Director of the Motley Theatre Design Course, a successor to Motley Theatre Design Group...
. She continued to design, mostly for the English National Opera, until the late 1970s, and remained as the director of the Motley Theatre Design Course until a few months before her death in 2000, just two weeks before her 96th birthday.
External links
- Motley Theatre Design Course http://www.motleytheatredesign.co.uk