Designers

William Capon

The chief set designer for John Philip Kemble both at Drury Lane and Covent Garden, William Capon was known for reproducing historically accurate gothic architecture on stage. He was behind the magnificent sets for George Colman the Younger’s The Iron Chest and Joanna Baillie’s De Montfort. Capon continued to design scenery until 1820.

Philippe-Jacques de Loutherbourgh

In the 18th century, the Strasbourg-born Philippe-Jacques de Loutherbourgh became the exclusive set designer for Drury Lane. He combined meticulously painted backdrops with dramatic lighting. He later left the theatre to promote his Eidophusikon, a miniature stage set that could reproduce vivid landscapes with moving clouds and perfect lighting without pesky actors getting in the way of the scenery.

John Henderson Grieve

The head of a family of scene designers, John Henderson Grieve designed sets at least as far back as 1805 with a production of Richard III in Bath. He introduced the panorama to Covent Garden in the 1820 production of Harlequin and Cinderella. His sons Thomas and William gained even further recognition. Thomas had his work exhibited at the Royal Academy and William was the first English designer to receive his own curtain call.

Clarkson Frederick Stanfield

Clarkson Stanfield began as a scene painter at the minor Royalty Theatre in London in 1816, but later moved on to the Royal Coburg and eventually became resident scene painter at Drury Lane. While there, he helped to pioneer moving scenery known as dioramas. Beginning in 1820, he also exhibited paintings at the Royal Academy and he was later known for his serious landscape paintings.

 

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