A GREAT performance is guaranteed at a Dorchester auction house as experts handle the sale of valuables collected over a lifetime by an acclaimed theatre director.

The hammer is set to come down at Duke’s on antiques and fine works of art gathered over decades by the late Peter Wood, a passionate collector. It includes works by Picasso, Henry Moore and David Hockney.

Mr Wood, an internationally-recognised theatre, opera and television director died aged 90 this year.

The contents of his ‘eclectic and iconic’ home, The Old Barn at Batcombe in Somerset, will be sold on September 15.

A spokesman for Duke’s said: “Peter worked with distinction for both the National Theatre Company under Laurence Olivier and Peter Hall, and also for the Royal Shakespeare Company. He was particularly associated with Tom Stoppard’s comedies and directed nearly all of them.”

The spokesman added: “Peter was born at Colyton in Devon and after two years National Service in the RAF he went to Cambridge University where he read English.

“At twenty nine he succeeded Peter Hall as Artist Director of the Arts Theatre London, the capital’s most adventurous alternative to the Angry Young Men’s movement. At Stratford-Upon Avon he staged The Winter’s Tale with Peggy Ashcroft and mounted the original 1965 touring production of Orton’s farce ‘Loot’. Peter worked in Vienna, Washington and New York and was one of the most sought after directors of his generation.”

The auction ‘reflects his personality’, ranging from a collection of 18th century ceramics, in particular a ‘off-beat’ collection of railway-related transfer printed lustre ware tankards and mugs. He apparently had a good eye for English 18th century country furniture, and the sale includes five architectural oak dresser and yew wood Windsor armchairs.

The house was full of interesting, amusing and unusual objects including tribal art, according to Duke’s.

His interests also extended to fine contemporary ceramics with a collection of Pablo Picasso ceramics and an important group of 20th century art lithographs including works by David Hockney, George Braque, Joan Miró and Henry Moore.

The collection will be on view at Duke’s fine art auction saleroom from September 10. Contact Duke’s for more details.