© Ivan Kyncl
Ivan Kyncl (1953–2004) was a Czech-born photographer who captured over five hundred plays, operas and musicals throughout his career. Arriving in the UK as a political refugee in 1980, Kyncl went on to become one of the country’s most in-demand and revered theatre photographers.
Having never worked professionally in the theatre, Kyncl brought a fresh approach. Rather than taking the customary static press shots from the auditorium, he roamed the space, from balcony to backstage and stalls to stage, winning the trust and respect of the industry with his dynamic perspectives.
In Prague, Kyncl had photographed politically sensitive plays performed in the secret ‘living-room theatre’ of blacklisted actress Vlasta Chramostová and documented the activities of Czechoslovakia’s Charta 77 anti-communist opposition. After a series of ad-hoc commissions in London, including work for Harold Pinter, it was his rehearsal images for a play by Czech dissident (and later President) Václav Havel that earned Kyncl his first significant job – with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Through 60 productions – one for every second of a minute – this display celebrates Kyncl’s unique ability to capture the essence, atmosphere and emotion of being in the moment or, as he liked to term it, ‘in the minute.’
This exhibition is open from 22 September 2024 in the Davison Exhibition Space.
Find out how to visit below:
Opening Hours
The exhibition will be open 10am-6pm, every day.
Location
The exhibition is held in the Davison Exhibition Space, in the Emily Wilding Davison Building on our Egham campus.
Enter the Davison Building to access the large open atrium. The Exhibition Space is on the wall facing the silver library barriers, look out for the Cave Hunters window sticker.
Getting Here
Visitors can use the following address to travel to campus:
Royal Holloway University
Egham Hill
Egham
Surrey
TW20 0EX
The nearest train station is Egham station (25 mins walk), and 441 and 500 buses stop on the A30 next to campus.
Accessibility
The Exhibition Space is step-free, with benches available throughout the space.
Large print booklets will be available for your visit, and an audio description legacy will be made available online.
There are toilets available in the Davison Building atrium next to Cafe on the Square, and a water point is accessible past the silver library barriers and to the left after the stairs.
Culture on Campus
Whilst you are on campus, why not explore our heritage services?
The Picture Gallery is open to the public from 10am-3pm on Wednesdays in terms 1 and 2.
Archive appointments can be booked with our Archivist on Tuesdays and Thursdays by emailing archives@rhul.ac.uk
Art store appointments can be booked with our Art Collections team all week by emailing artcollections@rhul.ac.uk
