Allan Lees Collection

The S,B&W Foundation Archives holds a remarkable collection of set boxes created by renowned Australian designer Allan Lees. Set boxes are scale models of theatre sets, typically built at one twenty-fifth of the full-size stage, allowing designers to develop and refine every aspect of a production’s scenic design in three dimensions before construction begins.

About Allan Lees

Designer, costumier, and educator Allan Lees was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. He began his career as a theatre designer with The Gypsy Baron in Wellington in 1960, before being commissioned by the New Zealand Opera Company to design Don Giovanni and the New Zealand Ballet to design Swan Lake. Over the course of a career spanning more than five decades, he served as Resident Designer for the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust and the Old Tote Theatre Company, Head of Design at NIDA, and designed the sets and costumes for more than 350 productions with 45 major companies in opera, ballet, musicals, and theatre.

Access Conditions

Researchers, students, and practitioners—including artists and set designers—are welcome to view the set boxes on-site at the archives. Visits are by appointment, and we encourage you to contact us to arrange a suitable time.