To mark the centenary of Wilhelm’s death on 2 March 1925, this presentation celebrates the life and creations of the designer, librettist and producer active in the late long C19th. Born in Northfleet, Kent, on 21 March 1858, Wilhelm (real name William John Charles Pitcher), adopted his Germanic-sounding name to avoid his non-theatrical family embarrassment and as, at the end of the nineteenth century, it sounded exotic. He was self-trained through studying performances, serving apprenticeships and making drawings of costumes he saw on stage. He became one of Britain’s leading designers for pantomimes and musical comedy, including Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, but is probably best remembered for his designs for ballet notably collaborating with choreographer, Katti Lanner, and ballerina, Adeline Genée.

In the nineteenth century designers for the stage received increased recognition for their work and the advent of the illustrated press and souvenirs made it known through reproductions. Like his predecessor Alfred Thompson (1831-1895), Wilhelm involved himself in the direction of pantomimes (particularly with his brother-in-law’s father, impresario Oscar Barrett) and ballets at both the Empire Theatre and London Coliseum. He was involved with spectacular productions and truly creative collaborations. Wilhelm never left Britain but early in the twentieth century his designs were also seen extensively in the USA.

Speaker: Jane Pritchard is curator of dance for the Victoria and Albert Museum where she curated Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes, 1909–1929 and edited the accompanying book. Previously she was archivist for Rambert Dance Company, English National Ballet and the Contemporary Dance Trust. She has curated numerous exhibitions and seasons of dance films.  She was the author of Anna Pavlova Twentieth Century Ballerina and has contributed to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, The Annual Register, Dance Chronicle, Dance Research, and The Dancing Times. Her current research includes late C19th costumes for spectacular productions and late C19th dance. She was awarded an MBE for services to the arts in the 2014 New Year’s Honours.

Transport & venue information:

Nearest London Underground stations for  St. Anne’s Church, 55 Dean St., London W1D 6AF: Piccadilly Circus, Leiceister Square, Tottenham Court Road.

The Allen Room is located on the first floor of St Anne’s Church, and is accessible via a lift or stairs.

BOOKINGS:  

STR lectures are free and open to the public. You don’t have to be a member, but it is essential to book to let us know if you wish to attend in person.

Note: lectures are given in London and times are in GMT.