ABSTRACT
Emmanuel Briffa Revisited
Philip Dombowsky
1995
The proposed thesis will examine the work of Emmanuel
Briffa, a theatre decorator whose career in North America spanned a period of thirty years
beginning in 1912. Devoted almost entirely to theatre decoration since immigrating to
North America from Malta in 1912, Briffa spent several years working in the United States
prior to moving to Canada during the early 1920's. After moving to this country, Briffa
quickly established himself as one of the most sought after theatre decorators and by the
end of his Canadian career had decorated approximately one hundred theatres stretching
from Vancouver to Halifax.
This study constitutes the first major research project involving the career of Emmanuel
Briffa. From the outset, two principal objectives have been pursued. First, to establish
an inventory of Briffa's commissions and second, to place this activity within the broader
context of theatre design in North America during the early decades of this century. The
first objective was accomplished through extensive research of Canadian newspapers and
visits to numerous theatres decorated by Briffa. The second objective was achieved through
interviews and a close reading of secondary sources relating to theatre design during the
period Briffa worked in North America.
Return to the Main Listing
of Theses or
use your browser's BACK button to return to the previous page
