The Lady's Not For Burning

Christopher Fry's verse play, The Lady's Not For Burning, was first presented for a three-week run at the Arts Theatre in 1948. A romantic comedy, which, according to the programme, took place in 'The 15th Century either more or less or exactly', it was well received by critics and audiences. The following year John Gielgud brought a new production to the Globe Theatre (now the Gielgud), directing it with Esme Percy and playing the leading role of disillusioned soldier Thomas Mendip. The starry West End cast included Pamela Brown as the accused witch Jennet Jourdemayne, Claire Bloom and the young Richard Burton. Oliver Messel designed appropriate fairytale medieval settings and costumes. Critics were full of praise - Harold Hobson called the play 'an intellectual delight' and 'a rare to-be-remembered joy' (Sunday Times, 15 May 1949). It ran for 293 performances at the Globe and was taken to New York later in 1950.

Canadian artist Stephen Andrews (1922-1995) was commissioned by Gielgud to make drawings of the production. In a 1986 letter to the V&A, he described this as a 'delightful task'. Andrews worked backstage at the Globe during January 1950, making quick sketches as the action took place on stage. Gielgud acquired a group of the drawings, Christopher Fry received two and each of the cast was given one. Andrews gave the remaining six drawings to the V&A.