217 posts
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Post by zsazsa on Feb 4, 2017 14:42:39 GMT
My partner and I have just been discussing the lack of a theatre museum in both London and New York. Surely these would be popular attractions in the theatre going capitals of the world.
I know there was once was a museum in London which I visited regularly but in hindsight many of the exhibits were related to Victorian theatre and were not interactive. The V&A does have a wonderful theatre section but I think there could be much more.
Imagine exhibits dedicated to long running shows (Mousetrap, Les Mis, Phantom) and the latest blockbusters (Hamilton) as well as back stage info/demonstrations on stage craft. Add into that a cafe with cast albums playing in the background, a shop selling books and show merchandise plus a small performance space. You could have regular talks from industry professionals.
Probably just a pipe dream but I live in hope. If that lottery win ever did come through then I know what I might invest in.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2017 15:41:38 GMT
I agree. The old museum in Covent Garden always promised a lot more than it gave, and the rooms dedicated to theatre now in the V&A seem tucked away at the back somewhere, somehow...
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1,119 posts
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Post by martin1965 on Feb 4, 2017 18:01:21 GMT
Agreed it does seem v odd that neither city has a proper museum, mind you its the same case for cinema since the scandalous wiping out of the museum of moving image at the BFI!
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1,503 posts
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Post by foxa on Feb 4, 2017 20:20:46 GMT
Agree as well. The V&A rooms are a bit disappointing - last time I went some of it was taken up with a few tents with videos celebrating a rock festival (I think as a tie in with the big Revolution exhibition downstairs.) Otherwise it was the same old, tired model sets, pantomime costumes (actually, I take that back, those are quite nice); Kylie's dressing room, a mishmash of costumes and posters. They rarely seem to change or update their exhibitions and it's all just chucked in pretty much together (panto, first folio, rock stars, old video of a Wind in the Willows rehearsal, some dressing up outfits, there you go.) Some of it seems almost apologetic that it's there at all. Sometimes there's something interesting like when they had a temporary exhibition of Vivien Leigh artifacts, but generally I've seen more exciting posters/playbills/prints on the walls at Saddler's Wells.
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4,156 posts
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Post by kathryn on Feb 4, 2017 20:28:35 GMT
There was an interesting exhibition about Jewish theatre at the Museum of the City of New York when I was there last year.
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1,102 posts
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Post by zak97 on Feb 4, 2017 20:39:14 GMT
Just wondering, what would it be possible to show in a theatre museum?
Off the top of my head I can think of:
- programmes
- costumes
- set design boxes
- set props
But is there anything else? I would just worry that with a theatre museum people would get a bit bored very quickly, unless it was very small. As far as programmes are concerned, would people in a theatre museum be allowed to touch them or would they get damaged? Likewise with model set boxes, if they are relatively small how easy would it be for people to see them if people were crowding round on a relatively busy day?
I do agree though that some form of theatre museum would be nice, even if it was just an exhibit in a more general cultural museum that was just given a more love and attention.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2017 20:52:33 GMT
Just wondering, what would it be possible to show in a theatre museum? Off the top of my head I can think of: - programmes - costumes - set design boxes - set props But is there anything else? I would just worry that with a theatre museum people would get a bit bored very quickly, unless it was very small. As far as programmes are concerned, would people in a theatre museum be allowed to touch them or would they get damaged? Likewise with model set boxes, if they are relatively small how easy would it be for people to see them if people were crowding round on a relatively busy day? I do agree though that some form of theatre museum would be nice, even if it was just an exhibit in a more general cultural museum that was just given a more love and attention. Why would the list of exhibits you mention be any more boring than anything else seen in any other museums? Why would touching a programme heighten the experience? Unless you mean to refer to a particular page, but isn't that the same as visiting the archives of the British Library, for example, to refer to a particular text? If there are enough set designs to look at, there wouldn't be a problem, would there? In addition to your list, I'd add original scripts and scores (annotated and otherwise), ticket stubs, posters, photographs, videos of selected shows, scenes, and rehearsals, and then there are the performers' reminiscences along with the directors', the designers', the producers', the audiences', not to mention the history and photographs and designs of the actual theatre buildings up and down the country, why some survived, and why they didn't, etc etc... surely there's so much more to keep theatre enthusiasts occupied and satisfied? |
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1,102 posts
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Post by zak97 on Feb 4, 2017 20:59:52 GMT
Just wondering, what would it be possible to show in a theatre museum? Off the top of my head I can think of: - programmes - costumes - set design boxes - set props But is there anything else? I would just worry that with a theatre museum people would get a bit bored very quickly, unless it was very small. As far as programmes are concerned, would people in a theatre museum be allowed to touch them or would they get damaged? Likewise with model set boxes, if they are relatively small how easy would it be for people to see them if people were crowding round on a relatively busy day? I do agree though that some form of theatre museum would be nice, even if it was just an exhibit in a more general cultural museum that was just given a more love and attention. Why would the list of exhibits you mention be more boring than anything else seen in other museums? Why would touching a programme heighten the experience? Unless you mean to refer to a particular page, but isn't that the same as the archives of the British Library for example? If there are enough set designs to look at, there wouldn't be a problem, would there? In addition to your list, I'd add original scripts and scores (annotated and otherwise), ticket stubs, posters, photographs, videos of selected shows, scenes, performers' reminiscences, rehearsals etc etc... surely there's so much more to keep theatre enthusiasts occupied and satisfied? I probably wrote was I was trying to say wrong, but what I meant was if you were to have a large museum based on theatre, I honestly think there is limited scope for interest. I am not trying to say it is boring relative to other museums, but what I mean is compared to say a more general history or science museum where there are so many branches of that discipline that allows more lots of different types of exhibit, with theatre I could only think of the things I listed off the top of my head that could be exhibited (of course there would be more but they were all that I could think of). Moreover, I am not trying to say they should not be exhibited, but it would be better as an exhibit, or a small museum space where there could be a variety of different little theatre exhibits rather than the same item (e.g. different set model boxes) just repeated multiple times. I have probably written this really badly, if I have am I sorry, but I am just trying to say theatre items probably work best as a well maintained exhibit rather than an overall purpose specific museum. With regard to programmes, in so many museums it's a no touch policy, so I was thinking that if the public were to see a programme, surely they would want to see the inside, cast list etc. I was just thinking that surely it would be hard to exhibit a programme for example as if lots of people were looking through, some more careless than others, and it was old and rare, surely it would get a bit tatty? But yes, like you say posters, photos etc. are other things of interest, I just didn't think of those. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2017 21:13:56 GMT
Don't be sorry, zak, you haven't written badly, but I think what zsazsa and I were trying to say was that we desperately need a purpose specific museum that is a lot more in-depth than the one we've had in the past or the rooms in a larger museum like we have now. Like any museums, the real enthusiasts could spend hours and hours in each room, visiting time and time again, whereas less dedicated visitors could flit from room to room and be more selective about what they wanted to see.
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193 posts
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Post by groupbooker on Feb 4, 2017 22:10:51 GMT
How about videos of "old" shows say from 60's up? I presume that all shows are on video for archive purposes? Some of the shows that have been in London and never since seen the light of day. I can think of Metropolis, King, La Cava, National theatre and RSC shows and you can come up with many more. I wouldn't be a 100% on when dvd's came about though. Just a room with dvd players and say headphones so you could watch and listen. Perhaps with machines that had a changing rota of shows?
Just a thought??
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4,156 posts
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Post by kathryn on Feb 4, 2017 22:50:26 GMT
Just wondering, what would it be possible to show in a theatre museum? Off the top of my head I can think of: - programmes - costumes - set design boxes - set props But is there anything else? I would just worry that with a theatre museum people would get a bit bored very quickly, unless it was very small. As far as programmes are concerned, would people in a theatre museum be allowed to touch them or would they get damaged? Likewise with model set boxes, if they are relatively small how easy would it be for people to see them if people were crowding round on a relatively busy day? I do agree though that some form of theatre museum would be nice, even if it was just an exhibit in a more general cultural museum that was just given a more love and attention. This was mainly what they had in the Jewish theatre exhibition, plus some grainy original footage. If traced the development of Jewish theatre from its Yiddish origins to Broadway shows about Jewish stories, including prominent companies and performers. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2017 22:54:55 GMT
From April 2018 onwards, London will have a theatre museum - Shakespeare's Globe. But remember to take a torch.
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1,483 posts
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Post by steve10086 on Feb 4, 2017 23:22:10 GMT
The Curtain Up exhibition at the V&A proves that a theatre museum can be very interesting. Great displays, costumes, and rare documents, very well presented. A much expanded version of that would be great.
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1,064 posts
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Post by bellboard27 on Feb 4, 2017 23:25:21 GMT
Visitors should be greeted by a waxwork of theatremonkey
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7,183 posts
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Post by Jon on Feb 4, 2017 23:54:10 GMT
Visitors should be greeted by a waxwork of theatremonkey Just steal a stuffed monkey from the Natural History Museum and just put a t-shirt saying theatremonkey |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2017 9:48:08 GMT
Visitors should be greeted by a waxwork of theatremonkey with a wick? |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2017 17:49:54 GMT
I don't remember much about when I visited the Theatre Museum, but I vaguely recall being disappointed that it seemed to be more about actors than theatre. It would be far more interesting to have interactive experience of the actual operation of theatres through the ages: different types of lighting set up and controllable, different ways of flying, what the stage looks like viewed from the prompt corner and the grid, how cramped it can get backstage when every available space is crammed with props and costumes, and all the other practical realities of an operating venue. An array of dusty old clothes with nobody inside them is nowhere near as interesting. I see that every time I do the laundry.
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Feb 6, 2017 20:34:37 GMT
An array of dusty old clothes with nobody inside them is nowhere near as interesting. I see that every time I do the laundry. Someone needs to get themselves down to Topshop sale... At least you'll be easy to spot at the next Board meet-up!  |
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Post by Phantom of London on Feb 6, 2017 21:28:17 GMT
I agree.
In New York you have the Library of Performing Arts at the Lincoln Centre, where on entry you are greeted by Al Hirshfeld famous chair, it is a magnificent resource which I have used many times and use it to catch up on shows I have missed in their Film and Tape archive.
Why cannot we have something similar in London? Especially that the National Theatre are filming a lot of what is going on, on stage. The British Library at Kings Cross would be the perfect location for it.
Also when I die, there are going to be boxes of theatre programmes left, which someone is going to just dispose of. Why cannot we have an archive of theatre programmes at the British Library. I would be more than happy in my will to leave my programmes to the country, I am sure there would be a few like minded people and in time they should build a comprehensive collection.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2017 21:31:17 GMT
I would be more than happy in my will to leave my programmes to the country Mine are going to the European Union. |
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Post by groupbooker on Feb 7, 2017 0:44:00 GMT
Good idea TM, perhaps it should be taken up by some one like Cameron Mac? A walk through theatre but similar to the BFI museum that used to be on the South Bank. Good way to preserve an old theatre in London as well. As for programmes and posters,I have every poster for the Theatre Royal in Plymouth up to the very first visit of Les Mis plus every programme, a lot signed. But where to leave it to is a problem of course!
Going on to the American side of theatre collections. I have taken groups to the Liberace museum in Vegas, where he had his costumes, cars and furniture on show in two buildings. After his death it was run as a charity but has since closed as no one interested in visiting - just like Debbie Reynolds tried to do and failed.
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Post by d'James on Feb 7, 2017 0:53:48 GMT
Using an old Theatre is a genius idea. They could always build new bits around it (depending where it is) for more traditional exhibition spaces.
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