Oliver Messel: The Art of Illusion

This panel discussion will explore Messel’s masterful use of illusion in stage productions encompassing ballet, opera, and theatre. Speakers include artist Pablo Bronstein, opera director Mariame Clément, V&A’s Curator of Dance, Jane Pritchard, and Philip Boot, Archivist at Glyndebourne. This event coincides with the opening of Glyndebourne's exhibition Oliver Messel: Designer, Maker, Influencer. 

2025 marks 100 years since Oliver Messel began his career as a professional theatre designer. With his distinctive and meticulous aesthetic, he quickly established himself as one of the most celebrated designers of the 20th century. Messel approached his set and costume designs in a very modern way, making props himself and overseeing every design element to achieve the illusion of grandeur and opulence on stage.