Robert St. John Roper (British, b.1913 - d.1977): A collection of theatre costume designs for Mother Goose

1950s, 12

1950s,
pencil and gouache on board, by Robert St. John Roper, five signed, comprising; three designs for Principal Boy, Mother Goose, London Palladium one with fabric swatch to top left, stamped R. St. John Roper Ltd., a design for George Mitchell as Sailors, together with five smaller designs for various characters such as Farmer, Shepherd, Beadle etc., stamped Production Department Moss' Empires Limited, a sheet of designs for various animal costumes, and two costume designs for unknown characters, all heavily annotated in pencil, largest 21 3/8in x 14 3/4in (54.5cm x 37.5cm), (12)

Robert St. John Roper was a prolific theatre costume designer throughout the 40s and 50s, and worked on numerous productions at the Windmill Theatre, the Prince of Wales Theatre, and the London Palladium, among other regional venues. Mother Goose was a pantomime at the London Palladium from 1954?1955 and starred Peter Sellers, Max Bygraves and Shirley Eaton.