Bori Papp

History of Design (MA)

Vaslav Nijinsky in L’apres-midi d’un Faune, illustration by Léon Bakst, 1912.

Programme for a performance of L'après-midi d'un Faune at Charleston Festival, 21 May 2024.

Closeup of a Stiltwalker marionette’s costume, late 19th century. Münchner Stadtmuseum.

Columbine marionnette from the Barnard Troupe, 1870s. V&A Theatre and Performance Collection, S.721-1990

About

I am a costume maker turned theatre historian, with an academic background in comparative literature. In intentionally broad terms, I am interested in questions of identity, the intersection of private and public spheres, and theories of audience participation. I have recently written about the reception of a British Victorian marionette troupe in Europe, investigating to what extent their performance was tailored to suit different audiences.

My dissertation explores the role that the material culture surrounding the Ballets Russes in London played in creating and sustaining queer communities. I am interested in the process of searching for shared histories as a strategy for survival. Using ephemera as evidence, my project considers fans as part of a collaborative cultural phenomenon, and reflects on why the Ballets Russes continues to be relevant a century after its so-called “Golden Age”.

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