| Description | The file is a mixture of letters from Richardson to Herbert most are personal in nature and discuss issues such as Richardson's views on the theatre season and experiences of shooting films, most are undated. Some refer to productions [not always by their full name] and infer that Herbert could have worked on productions that she chose not to for example, notes on costumes for 'Measure for Measure' [undated] and letter pleading with Herbert to work on 'The Threepenny Opera', 7 Dec 1971[she did work on it in 1989, at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, directed by John Dexter]. There is also reference to Herbert sending him scripts for example, 'Class Enemy' undated. One of the letters is possibly about 'Saint Joan of the Stockyards', undated, for example mentioning budgets.
One letter is to Herbert and George Devine, undated, and is discusses Richardson's St Tropez house.
Approximately half the letters in the file are from Richardson to Devine. There are a number on Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp headed paper, that are about Richardson wanting to 'do the season' [at The Royal Court Theatre] of plays including 'Luther''. One, undated, refers to an unrealised production, 'Milk Train' and a second one, undated, refers to being enthusiastic about 'A Patriot for Me' [directed by Anthony Page, designed by Herbert in 1965, written by John Osborne]. Another, undated, advises Devine to give up running The Royal Court Theatre [for health reasons].
There is also a news clipping about the 'Ned Kelly' film premiere [directed by Richardson] and an obituary for Lindsay Anderson from 'The College Record'.
Richardson was a director and he and Herbert collaborated a number of times: at The Royal Court Theatre 'The Chairs' 1957; at The Royal Court Theatre 'The Changeling' 1961; at The Theatre Royal Nottingham/The Royal Court Theatre 'Luther'' 1961; at The Queen's Theatre 'The Seagull' 1964; and at The Queen's Theatre 'Saint Joan of the Stockyards' 1964 and on the films, Tom Jones (1961), Ned Kelly (1970) and The Hotel New Hampshire (1983). |