The brainchild of Penelope Sitwell, this exciting collection celebrates the glamorous worlds of the performing arts, television and film with unique material associated with many of the legendary names of entertainment.
In 1995 Penelope and Reresby Sitwell began conversion of the Georgian Stables at Renishaw.
You will find the collection of paintings by John Piper as well as Sitwell memorabilia relating to the Sitwells´ friendship and influence on their contemporaries such as the photographer Cecil Beaton as well as the literature of their times - hence this exciting project.
Costume worn by Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolitle in My Fair Lady (PIC on website www.sitwell
The corpus of this exhibition is from private collections, including that of Alan Sievewright, the renowned impresario, television arts producer, lecturer and designer.
At the invitation of Lady Sitwell he designed collages using unique material never seen before by the general public. Here, you will see the fabulous costumes from Iambic´s awardwinning film on Puccini for the BBC and other costumes of the stars of stage and screen.
There is also material kindly loaned from Julian Royle, the widower of the beautiful and accomplished soprano Elizabeth Harwood, including some of her memorable stage dresses.
Tarquin Olivier has also provided memorabilia from his father Laurence Olivier.
The great ballerina Antoinette Sibley has promised a tutu or two and Mick Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Collins have all made contributions to the gallery.
A galaxy of stars is represented, from Maria Callas to Vivien Leigh, Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev, Alicia Markova and Mikhail Barishnikov including original material from Cher, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Sir Robert Helpmann and Sir Noel Coward.
Performing arts gallery first floor has memorabilia once owned by legendary names from the worlds of opera and ballet : Maya Plisteskaya, Julia Migenes, Joan Sutherland, Montserrat Caballe, Pavlova, Caruso, José Carreras and not forgetting the new sensational tenor José Cura.
This was a great success. Our thanks and appreciation to everyone involved