Astrid's Work - Shakespeare

The Shakespeare Exhibition 1964

Perhaps the first truly major project that Astrid undertook was for the Shakespeare exhibition organised and directed by Richard Buckle. It was first staged at Stratford-upon-Avon and later sections were exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London and in Edinburgh.

This was an extraordinary and flamboyant display that was to break new ground in exhibition design, although at the time it largely brought about Buckle’s downfall due to its extravagance.

Nevertheless it was an ideal opportunity for Astrid to experiment and expand her own talent. It also meant that she would have to gather together a team of people with whom she could work. I believe that these were mostly ex students that she had identified as being particularly talented. Her main requirement was for students who understood anatomy. She could never understand why, in a school of art, anatomy was not a compulsory subject. “How can one model the outside if you have no idea what goes on within?”

Her chosen band set about creating the works for this exhibition in what was the Blandford Hall in the grounds of Alexandra Palace, North London. A one time dance hall with the most beautiful interior that had fallen into disuse, and was later to be destroyed by fire.

This was at the early stages of my association with Astrid and unfortunately I missed photographing much of the activity, coming to the place when most things had been dispatched. Nevertheless, I was able to capture a few evocative images.

A pensive Astrid

And the all-important tea-making rota that shows who worked on the project.

Elizabeth Waghorn; Charles Knode; Frank Colarechia; Margaret Mann; Tim Mitchell; Cilia Doigo; Peter Fairchild;Ann Hollowood; Ian Watson; John Napier; Peter Hoggenboom; Anthony Royce Mills; Julia St. John Brooks; Chris Griffin; Tim Goodchild; Paul Vaughan; Derek Norman; Peter Kendal; Lawrence Wakeman. (Where are they now?)

One can only imagine the hive of industry created by so many people, but these images seem to capture a distinct ‘after the party’ feeling. The crowd has gone and we are left with a few streamers and party hats.

But photographically, this was not the end of the story. I was invited to photograph the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, or at least part of it. Buckle had originally staged his extravaganza at Stratford-upon-Avon and the National Portrait Gallery only had a section of it, but it did contain some of Astrid’s pieces.

Bronze casting Theatre grounds, Stratford, Connecticut. This was cast from the original exhibited at the NPG. There was a rumour that this statue has been moved, but I have been able to confirm that this is not the case..

These two Beefeaters are the maquettes seen in the studio at Warwick Road, but I believe they were enlarged to eighteen feet high for the exhibition in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Further information about this exhibition can be found in the archives of the Royal Shakespeare Company. There is a collection of papers reference number DR352, which includes photograph files Ref. DR352/8/5 and DR352/8/6 that can be viewed at the Records Office. The library also holds a copy of the exhibition catalogue (Ref. OS70.3/1964) that has references to Astrid’s sculptures