Twelfth Night Program, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (1797)
Date
Format
- Program 73
- Playbill 15
- Archive/Collection 19
Techniques
- letterpress printing 96
- lithography 133
Printed Pages
Locations Made
This program signifies a notable shift in our cultural paradigm, where the use of typefaces goes beyond mere ‘text’ to actively infuse words, people, and titles with distinct personalities. The piece employs serif fonts exclusively and utilizes a range of letter spacing with more expansive, open spacing to highlight the last names of the actors. This deliberate manipulation of spacing helps create visual hierarchy, drawing attention to specific details within the text. Additionally, the program showcases a variety of ligatures, as well as the antiquated long s character, which contributes to the piece’s historical resonance and aesthetic complexity. While the design might initially appear chaotic, the consistent use of bold weight with wider letter spacing denotes the titles of the shows. This structured approach carefully considers how typographical elements can convey meaning and evoke a certain atmosphere.
The image of the Plain-Dealer, though associated with the program, does not originate from the same document. It portrays an actor in a role from Twelfth Night, who also appeared in the 1797 production of the show. The connection between these elements lies in the reference to “M. Jordan” (Mrs. Jordan in the first document). The image itself is from the British Library printed July 11th, 1796.
