NEW DESIGNER FOR PLAYERS COMPANY

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28268, 4 May 1957, Page 4

NEW DESIGNER FOR PLAYERS COMPANY

David de Bethel, formerly of 1 Christchurch, has been appointed i stage and costume designer for s the New Zealand Players Com- 1 pany, in succession to Raymond Boyce, who resigned from the position about "a month ago. Now in London, Mr de Bethel will return to New Zealand in time for the company’s last production this year. He will be accompanied by his wife who will assist him in his new appointment and also take over the duties of property mistress for the company; Mr de Bethel was educated at Christchurch Boys’ High School, and after studying at the Canterbury University College School of Art he joined the Alan Wilkie Shakespearean Company as designer and remained with them until they disbanded. He then went to England and, in the 1930’5, travelled throughout Europe and North Africa studying painting and learning languages. In Paris he studied with Andre > Lhote, and in Vienna with Franz . Elsner. A connoisseur of fine food, he published “The Tirolese . Cookery Book,” "Bouquet Garni.” , and “A Little Book of French Cooking.’’ ~ , During the Second World War I he had a distinguished career in ' the British Consular Service, among his appointments being

head of the enemy export control department at the British Consulate in Budapest, and Palestine Government Agent in Egypt. After the war he returned to Paris and for a year spent his time painting and doing theatrical designing. He returned to London to work on designs for “Sauce Piquante” at the Cambridge Theatre, and has since designed sets and costumes for many West End productions.