Daphne Dare obituary
- Publication: The Stage
- Date: 2000-11-16
- Author: John Martland
- Page: 13
- Language: English
Daphne Dare, who died recently aged 71, was an extremely versatile costume designer who forged two important partnerships during her lifetime — with actor/ director Robin Phillips and film director Ken Loach.
She was born in Yeovil, Somerset, and after studying at the Bath Academy of Art, began to learn her trade at the Birmingham Repertory Company and Bristol Old Vic. While at Bristol she met aspiring actor Robin Phillips who was soon to become a wunderkind director — the Sam Mendes/Stephen Daldry of his day.
After Dare had spent some time with BBC Television in the early sixties, designing costumes for a wide range of programmes, including Doctor Who, she and Phillips worked together at the Northcott Theatre, Exeter, where she was head of design and he associate director.
In 1970, they collaborated on an acclaimed West End production of Abelard and Heloise, which transferred to Broadway, and several more of their often spectacular productions were mounted at the Company Theatre, Greenwich, from 1973-75.
After Phillips moved to Canada and took up the post of director of the Stratford Festival Theatre, Ontario, Dare rejoined him and they continued their by now celebrated teaming, with Dare excelling with her dazzling costume designs for Antony and Cleopatra (1976), among many other shows.
She returned to England in the mid-eighties, and subsequently concentrated mainly on films, renewing an association with Ken Loach which had begun in the sixties and seventies with Kes and Family Life. Hidden Agenda, Land of Freedom and Carla's Song were among their screen highlights during the nineties.
Dare's other film credits as costume designer included two comedies, Every Home Should Have One, starring Marty Feldman, and Gumshoe (Albert Finney and Billie Whitelaw), as well as Stephen Poliakoff's romantic drama, Century. with Charles Dance and Miranda Richardson. She also served as production designer on The Wars and the 1972 screen adaptation of Strindberg's Miss Julie, both of which were directed by Phillips.
Towards the end of her life Dare settled down in a London suburb, while Phillips, her most significant influence, continues to thrive in north America He directed the current Broadway hit musical Jekyll & Hyde.
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- APA 6th ed.: Martland, John (2000-11-16). Daphne Dare obituary. The Stage p. 13.
- MLA 7th ed.: Martland, John. "Daphne Dare obituary." The Stage [add city] 2000-11-16, 13. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Martland, John. "Daphne Dare obituary." The Stage, edition, sec., 2000-11-16
- Turabian: Martland, John. "Daphne Dare obituary." The Stage, 2000-11-16, section, 13 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Daphne Dare obituary | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Daphne_Dare_obituary | work=The Stage | pages=13 | date=2000-11-16 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=2 April 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Daphne Dare obituary | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Daphne_Dare_obituary | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=2 April 2025}}</ref>
