PETER DARRELL TRUST
LINKS UP WITH
BARRY KAY ARCHIVE

Barry Kay (1932-1985) was a highly talented, internationally acclaimed stage and costume designer, who later in his career also emerged a distinguished photographer. With his intuitive vision - never short of innovative ideas - he contributed immensely to the world of the theatre. Combined with an extraordinary comprehension of stage space and its use, he specifically excelled in designing sets for the ballet. In matching his exquisite flair for period and imaginary fashion with his profound knowledge of fabrics and their diversified inherent properties, of dress constructing and tailoring, he created ravishingly beautiful costumes. The uninhibited and graceful movements he imparted on them are very much exemplified in ballet dancing. Having held the view that sets and costumes must compliment each other, in designing them he always treated them as inseparable. This way he achieved a coherently harmonious single entity. Barry Kay surely must rank among the pioneering stage designers of the 20th century.

The Prisoners One of Darrell’s most outstanding dramatic ballets concerning the escape of two convicts, Baudin and Christophe, from prison to the home of Christophe. His wife falls in love with Baudin and persuades him to kill her husband and then confines him to her house, so that he finds he has simply exchanged one prison for anotther. Danced to Bartok’s "Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta". Decor and Costumes by Barry Kay.

Original Programme for 'The Prisoners' designed by Barry Kay

The primary purpose of the Barry Kay Archive is to help maintain awareness of Barry Kay and his works. There is no illustrated biography on Kay in existence as yet. Also, his name is inexplicably and undeservedly missing from far too many hitherto published theatre reference books. Unless conveyed by public collections or relevant teaching institutions, most but a few of Kay's generation will not be aware of his invaluable contributions to the performing arts. Therefore, and before falling into oblivion, it is the Barry Kay Archive's intention to promote appreciation of Kay's works. By making a selection of them as well as related information available via the internet, a wider audience interested in these artistic métiers is given the chance of accessing them and that would hardly be obtainable in any other way.

Visit the Barry Kay Archive at www.barry-kay-archive.org

The Peter Darrell Trust 326 West Princes Street Glasgow G4 9HA Email: info@peterdarrell.org