Images under the tent

Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada, Summer, 2002 by Noreen Mallory

IN 1953 VISUAL ARTIST NOREEN MALLORY WAS RECRUITED INTO THE DESIGN DEPARTMENT OF THE FLEDGLING Stratford Festival. She spent three seasons there, between stints in the CBC Television costume department, including a season as assistant to renowned designer Tanja Moiseiwitsch. On the occasion of Stratford's 50th season, Mallory shares a unique collection of her photographs taken around the Festival tent during the inaugural seasons of 1953 and 1954. Mallory, who is based in Montreal, is currently bringing together a large series of figure drawings in colour and black-and-white.

1. "The big hold -- still not covered by the tent -- about ten days before opening night!"

2. "I think this, was worn by Douglas Campbell in All's Well That Ends Well in 1953. Without air conditioning the actors sweated so much that their costumes were freguently hung out to dry in the fresh air. Tent ropes make a good clothes line."

3. Members of the 1953 Stratford company Eric House and Robert Christie with photographer. Walter. Kertin.

4. William Hutt dressed for his role as Sir Robert Brackenbury in Richad III 1953) "and interested Stratfordites."

5. "This may be the only view from this vantage point inside the famous tent. Skip Manley, the tent man - and a whole universe unto himself - took me on a 'forbidden' route high up in the tent, a special privilege granted to a 'fellow artist', as he rightly saw himself."

6. Betty Leighton, Beatrice Lennard and William Needles, all members of the 1953 Startford company. 7. Banner drying outside the tent. 8. "This mysterious elegant young gentleman is Timothy Findley in All's Well That Ends Well. The woman may be Bettry Leighton."