Gallery Plays

Little Lights Theatre Company performing 'Dragons, Lions and Football' in the V&A Medieval & Renaissance Galleries, 2010

'Very good, one of the only animated exhibitions to enhance a 5 yr old's experience! Wonderful to incorporate a live performance, seemed to bring it to life, bring it all together!'

A performance for families at the V&A has something for everyone; young visitors often get involved in telling the story while fascinating gems of information are delivered for older visitors.

Gallery Plays are a little different to other performance events you may have seen at the V&A. Professional actor-interpreters tell you the story of how and why the Museum objects came to be made and why they were acquired for the collection. Little Lights Theatre Company work with Museum curators to highlight the important characters involved in the creation of the object, whether it is a member of the Royal Family, a famous artist or designer or just an ordinary person with an extraordinary story. We tell the story of the objects from this personal perspective, bringing an era of history to life along the way.

When: Every Saturday and during school holidays
Duration: 25 minutes, starting 11.00, 13.00 & 15.00
Cost: Free
No need to book, just drop in

The plays

The Gallery Plays rotate, so check What's On to find out which plays are being performed when:

Squeeze me in!
Meet Lord and Lady Stevens and discover why it was hard to get dressed in Victorian times!
In the Fashion Galleries

Meet a Medieval Monk
Get a glimpse of life inside a Medieval monastery as brother Matthew invites you to join him while he writes his majestic manuscripts.
In the Medieval & Renaissance Galleries

The First Knight
Go on an adventure backstage to see how Queen Victoria influenced entertainment from audience to actors.
In the Theatre & Performance Galleries

Puppet on a String
Join famous puppeteering families as they travel around Europe and help make their puppets sing and dance for all to see!
In the Theatre & Performance Galleries

The Boy Who Sat on the Dragon Throne
Find out about Pu-Yi, the 2-year-old emperor who ruled over China in the Forbidden City.
In the China Galleries

Dragons, Lions & Football
From the secret language hidden in the shields of medieval knights and kings to the 3 Lions on David Beckham's England shirt, this play uncovers the fascinating myth & magic of the heraldic shield!
In the Medieval & Renaissance Galleries

Little Lights Theatre Company performing 'Squeeze me in!' in the V&A Fashion Galleries, 2009

Little Lights Theatre Company performing 'Puppet on a String' in the V&A Theatre & Performance Galleries, 2010

Have your say

If you have seen any of our performances, or have any comments about Museum Theatre, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Little Lights Theatre creative director and programme manager Gillian Brownson.