{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O158397"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O158397/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GX2975/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014GX2975/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014GX2975","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O158397","accessionNumber":"S.203-2008","objectType":"Drawing","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Stephen Spurrier RA, ROI, RBA (1878-1961) was one of the most accomplished illustrators of the 20th century whose drawings recorded the fashions, celebrities and events of the 1920s to 1950s. Like his friend and artist Laura Knight, Spurrier was fascinated by the theatre and frequently used it as his subject, on both sides of the curtain.\r\n\r\nThe Century Theatre in Archer Street, Notting Hill, was a small theatre originally called the Bijou, but renamed the Century by the actress Lena Ashwell (1872-1957) when she took it over in 1924. It became the home for her company, the Lena Ashwell Players, and she produced plays there and appeared in them herself. She ran it until 1929, making a reputation for the Century as the home for good repertory theatre with West End quality but moderate prices.","physicalDescription":"Pencil and watercolour drawing of the audience at the Century Theatre, London, seen from the back of the stalls during the interval, showing audience members seated, or making their way along rows of seats, with a uniformed member of staff in the aisle serving drinks from a tray. The drawing is glued to a card backing on which is affixed a printed label illustrated with an image of the Covent Garden market and piazza, printed: 'To be returned to A.E.Johnson, Artists' Agent, 3, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London WC2.' and inscribed in ink: 'In the Entre Act at the Century Theatre. Stephen Spurrier'.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Spurrier, Stephen","id":"A22690"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Pen","id":"x30618"},{"text":"Paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pencil and watercolour heightened with white, stuck down on card","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Illustration","id":"THES48938"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2014GX2975"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES356678"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawings","id":"AAT33973"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1930","earliest":"1925-01-01","latest":"1934-12-31"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Gabrielle Enthoven Collection","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"35.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"28.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"SPURRIER","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Signed by the artist"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"The audience of the Century Theatre, London, during the interval ca.1930, by Stephen Spurrier (1878-1961). Pencil and watercolour heightened with white","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"audience","id":"AAT192793"},{"text":"waitress","id":"AAT238452"},{"text":"theatre","id":"x32431"},{"text":"orchestra pits","id":"AAT100113"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.203-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"203","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-09","recordCreationDate":"2008-07-03","availableToBook":true}}