Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by Michael Sofroniou. It dates from 1991 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Michael Sofroniou made this drawing in 1991. It’s a quick sketch of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s wig room before showtime. The backstage space is quiet and full of neatly lined wigs.
Sofroniou was the RSC’s Artist in Residence that year. The drawing captures a small corner of theater life most people never see.
Check out more drawings by Sofroniou at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
Executed during Sofroniou's tenure as the company's Artist in Residence, the work offers a candid glimpse into the preparatory backstage environment.
Created in 1991, this drawing by Michael Sofroniou documents the interior of the Royal Shakespeare Company's wig room prior to a performance. Executed during Sofroniou's tenure as the company's Artist in Residence, the work offers a candid glimpse into the preparatory backstage environment. The composition focuses on a specific corner of the space, characterized by the orderly arrangement of wigs lined up on racks or shelves.
Rendered in a sketch-like manner, the drawing captures the quiet stillness of the room before the onset of theatrical activity. The piece serves as a documentary record of the logistical and artistic infrastructure supporting the RSC's productions, highlighting the often-overlooked areas where costumes and character identities are prepared. As part of Sofroniou's residency, this work contributes to a broader exploration of the theater's daily operations, moving beyond the stage to examine the supporting spaces that enable the performance.
The drawing stands as a specific artifact of the artist's engagement with the company during that period, preserving a transient moment of backstage organization.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on rows of wigs arranged on shelves, emphasizing the order and preparation that underpin theatrical production. By isolating this functional space, the drawing highlights the meticulous, behind‑the‑scenes labor that supports the visible spectacle onstage.
Technique & Style
Executed as a quick sketch, the piece relies on loose line work and minimal shading to convey the spatial arrangement of the wigs and the quiet atmosphere of the room. The economy of detail reflects Softroniou’s intent to capture a fleeting moment rather than render a polished illustration.
History & Provenance
Michael Sofroniou served as Artist in Residence for the Royal Shakespeare Company during 1991‑1992, a period during which he produced a series of drawings documenting various aspects of the theatre’s operations. This particular work originates from that residency and remains part of the collection that documents his collaboration with the RSC.
Context
The drawing belongs to a broader body of work created by Sofroniou while embedded within the RSC, offering visual records of backstage environments, rehearsals, and stagecraft. Such pieces contribute to an archival visual history of contemporary British theatre practice in the early 1990s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Michael Sofroniou’s ink drawings from 1991 draw sharp, nervous lines that twist narrative fragments into tight compositions.
