An Emmy Award-winning actor who made his name starring as the flamboyant monarch Henry VIII is to open an exhibition of costumes from the world of acting royalty.
Keith Michell, who made his acting debut in 1947, will open the summer show “Jubilee: Dressing the Monarchy on Stage and Screen” at the Assembly Rooms in Bath.
He starred as the extravagant Tudor king twice – firstly in the 1972 film “Henry VIII and his Six Wives”, and again in 1996 with the BBC television drama “The Prince and the Pauper”, produced by Julian Fellowes.
The exhibition, which runs from 17 July to 2 September 2012, traces the progression of the British monarchy from when King Edgar was crowned in Bath Abbey in 973 to the present day and the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
The magisterial robes worn by Keith Michell in his roles as Henry VIII will be on display amongst over 50 costumes from theatre, TV and film productions, illustrating how the styles of Royal dress have changed and led fashion, and often been integral to the interpretation of Royal characters.
Exhibits include archive costumes from the Royal Shakespeare Company worn by Dame Helen Mirren, Dame Peggy Ashcroft, Richard Burton CBE and Sir Anthony Sher. There are costumes from the latest films on the monarchy, “The Queen”, “The King’s Speech” and “W.E.” as well as classic costumes worn by Sir Alec Guinness, Rufus Sewell, Timothy West CBE and Dame Maggie Smith in dramas of the last few decades.
Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “The crowning glory of the exhibition will be the great Tudor dynasty portrayed by actors like Keith Michell, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Dame Helen Mirren as Elizabeth I. Therefore Bath & North East Somerset Council is delighted to welcome Keith Michell to open this exhibition as part of its celebrations in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year.”
