Theatre & Performance · V&A

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The Theatre & Performance collections are an incredible resource that document current practice and the history of all areas of performing arts in the UK, including drama, dance, opera, circus, puppetry, comedy, musical theatre, costume, set design, pantomime, popular music and much more...

The collection was founded in the 1920s when a private collector, Gabrielle Enthoven, donated her extensive collection of theatrical designs, memorabilia, books and photographs to the Museum. Since then the collection has continued to grow to include significant objects and works of art; books, manuscripts, audio-visual recordings and ephemerality; and the archives of performing arts companies, performers, directors, stage designers and private collectors.

Explore the Collections

Conserving Vivien Leigh's Cleopatra Cloak

Step behind the scenes and experience the conservation process up close

The story of theatre

As told through our fascinating collection

Design and make your own story

Create a story and bring it to life!

Paper peepshows

Take a peek into our peepshow collection

Handling Ian McKellen's Shakespeare costume

Find out about the importance of handling theatre costumes with care

Conserving Sandie Shaw's Eurovision dress

See how Sandie Shaw's beaded Eurovision dress is conserved

A history of puppets in Britain

Punch, Judy, Sooty, Sweep and a life-sized horse puppet called Joey, you'll find them all in our puppets collection...

An A–Z of musical theatre

From early ballad operas to today's West End blockbusters

Conserving a PJ Harvey costume

Watch as the threads on PJ Harvey's costume are carefully untangled and arranged

The story of circus

Discover the history of circus and the acts that have entertained audiences over the last 250 years

"That's the way to do it!" A history of Punch & Judy

Discover the fascinating story of the perennial entertainer

The Harry Hammond photographic collection

The founding father of music photography

Conserving a clown costume

See the processes involved in conserving a sequinned clown costume

Modernist theatre in Britain between the Wars

The Modernist agenda is reflected in the pioneering political theatrical organisations that sprung up in the UK between the wars

The story of pantomime

The familiar trappings of the classic British panto owe much to the innovations of Victorian entrepreneurs, performers and designers

The Rolling Stones tongue and lips logo

Discover the fascinating story about how a young RCA student was commissioned to produce one of the world's most iconic logos

Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes – an introduction

The productions of the Ballets Russes revolutionised early 20th-century arts and continue to influence cultural activity today

Conserving an Adzido Pan African Dance Costume

See how these raffia leg wraps were conserved

Tommy Cooper collection

The Tommy Cooper Collection celebrates the life and career of one of Britain’s best-loved comedy stars

Shoes formerly worn by Prince

Shoes worn by the best-selling musical artist Prince have been acquired for the V&A's National Collection of Performing Arts

Wilton's Music Hall archive

Discover the chequered history of the world's oldest surviving Victorian music hall

Conserving a ballet tutu

Watch as Belinda Wright's tutu is humidified

Theatre posters – an illustrated history

Explore over 400 years of theatre poster design

Music hall and variety theatre

Charting its history from early song and supper rooms to West End music halls and the birth of the Royal Variety Performance

ASMR at the museum

Get closer to our objects than ever before

The story of The Supremes

Mary Wilson, co-founder of The Supremes, talks about her extraordinary career and the heyday of Motown

The circus photography of John Hinde

The power of photography to create a "greatness and fullness of life"

Facing the music: Album covers from musical theatre

Explore the album artwork and songs from classic musicals from the 1960s to the 1990s

Costume design: SIX the Musical – Catherine of Aragon

Discover the secrets behind the costume

A brief history of vampires – in print, photography and posters

Discover, if you dare, how Count Dracula haunts the V&A's collections

Gabrielle Enthoven – collector of theatre and performance

Discover one woman's efforts to establish a theatre and performance collection at the V&A

Design and make a musical from your favourite story

Re-think your favourite story for the stage

Costume conservation: My Fair Lady

From rags to riches, follow the transformation of an iconic piece of musical theatre history

Costume design: Moulin Rouge! The Musical – Satine's Sparkling Diamond costume

Go behind the scenes to see how Satine's dazzling costume was designed

Preparing a Bollywood poster for stretching: ASMR

Step inside the Painting Conservation Studio to see this enormous hand-painted poster be prepared for display

Shakespeare's First Folio

Discover the secrets of a 400-year-old copy of Shakespeare's collected plays

Diva playlist

Experience the greatest divas of all time, and add your own to our playlist

Redefining the diva

From the rise of the operatic prima donna in the 16th century to today, we explore the reinvention, challenges and redefinition of the diva

500 years of witches in art and design

Grab your broom and join us for a spellbinding journey through art and design history

Packing objects for a new home: ASMR

How do you move over 250,000 museum objects from one side of London to the other?

Header image:

Photocall for the London Palladium production of A Chorus Line, 2013, England. Museum no. THM/110/2/407. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London