Stage set model for 2013 production of 'Kinky Boots', which transitions between a shoe factory in Northampton and catwalk of Milan. Photography: Kamila Harris, Chaunte Vaughn
For 25 years, David Rockwell has been designing Tony Award-winning theatre sets as part of his multi-faceted, avant-garde design and architecture practice. The V&A has acquired four of his most iconic Broadway designs for its permanent collection – two of which are on show in the museum’s freshly renovated Theatre and Performance Galleries.
The acquired models are set stage designs for Hairspray, Kinky Boots, On the Twentieth Century and The Nap – four significant touchpoints in Rockwell’s 40-year-long career that also capture the ‘creative, cultural and economic traffic between Broadway and the West End’, says The V&A.
‘From a young age, I have believed in the enduring power of performance—these experiences and visuals stay with us long after the curtain has closed,’ says Rockwell. ‘Theatre has defined my work and my life, both on and off the stage, and I’m thrilled to be able to share some of what we’ve learned on this journey.’
Rockwell’s passion for theatre was ingrained early: his mother was a vaudeville dancer and choreographer, involving him in community theatre productions from a young age. When he established his eponymous architecture and design firm in 1984, he drew on his passion and experience in theatre to shape his consideration of scale, narrative, flow and intimacy to curate memorable experiences with space.
To celebrate the acquisition of the models, Rockwell is giving a talk at the V&A on Monday, October 21, 2024, recounting 25 years working in set design in a conversation with V&A Senior Curator of Theatre & Performance Simon Sladen. Tickets are available online.
Meanwhile, the set models for Hairspray and Kinky Boots are currently on public display at the V&A South Kensington.
