Ralph Koltai

Book excerpt: A stunning full-colour record of half a century of inspired theatre work marking the 80th birthday of one of the UK's most distinguished stage designers. The book contains models and production shots of over 30 of Koltai's shows interlaced with essays by and interviews with Koltai, his collaborators and fellow designers. Ralph Koltai CBE is possibly the most wide-ranging and consistently prolific British stage designer. Still at work today, his first designs were for the English Opera Group, Covent Garden and Ballet Rambert in the 1950s. These were followed by regular commissions from the RSC (where he was Associate Designer) and National Theatre in the 60s and 70s, work in the West End in the 80s and on the world's stages from the 90s to the present day.