Theatre & Performance

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.

Search “Theatre & Performance ” in Explore the Collections

Features

Watch

Conserving Vivien Leigh's Cleopatra Cloak

Step behind the scenes and experience the conservation process up close

  1. Read

    The story of theatre

    As told through our fascinating collection
  2. Interact

    Design and make your own story

    Create a story and bring it to life!
  3. Read

    Paper peepshows

    Take a peek into our peepshow collection
  4. Watch

    Handling Ian McKellen's Shakespeare costume

    Find out about the importance of handling theatre costumes with care
  5. Watch

    Conserving Sandie Shaw's Eurovision dress

    See how Sandie Shaw's beaded Eurovision dress is conserved

  6. Read

    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...
  7. Read

    An A–Z of musical theatre

    From early ballad operas to today's West End blockbusters
  8. Watch

    Conserving a PJ Harvey costume

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

    The story of circus

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

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

    Discover the fascinating story of the perennial entertainer
  11. Read

    The Harry Hammond photographic collection

    The founding father of music photography
  12. Watch

    Conserving a clown costume

    See the processes involved in conserving a sequinned clown costume
  13. Read

    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
  14. Read

    The story of pantomime

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

    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
  16. Read

    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
  17. Watch

    Conserving an Adzido Pan African Dance Costume

    See how these raffia leg wraps were conserved
  18. Read

    Tommy Cooper collection

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

  19. Read

    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
  20. Read

    Wilton's Music Hall archive

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

    Conserving a prima ballerina's tutu - ASMR

    Watch as Belinda Wright's tutu is humidified
  22. Read

    Theatre posters – an illustrated history

    Explore over 400 years of theatre poster design
  23. Read

    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
  24. Watch

    ASMR at the museum

    Get closer to our objects than ever before
  25. Watch

    The story of The Supremes

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

    The circus photography of John Hinde

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

    Facing the music: Album covers from musical theatre

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

    Costume design: SIX the Musical – Catherine of Aragon

    Discover the secrets behind the costume
  29. Read

    Gabrielle Enthoven – collector of theatre and performance

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

    Design and make a musical from your favourite story

    Re-think your favourite story for the stage
  31. Watch

    Costume conservation: My Fair Lady

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

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

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

    Preparing a Bollywood poster for stretching: ASMR

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

    Shakespeare's First Folio

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

    Diva playlist

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

    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
  37. Watch

    500 years of witches in art and design

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

    Packing objects for a new home: ASMR

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

    Musical theatre costume design: Everybody's Talking About Jamie

    How do you create a character through costume?
  40. Visit

    V&A trail: Shakespeare's magic

    Explore the Britain Galleries through a Shakespearean lens looking anew at objects on display and discovering links to Shakespeare’s plays.
  41. Read

    French Windows – the psychedelic music video for Pink Floyd's One of These Days

    A classic piece of experimental animation by award winning film director and a pioneering animator Ian Emes

Collection highlights

Show all
  1. dance costume
    Dance costume, Adzido Pan African Dance Company, 1999
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  2. artwork
    Rolling Stones Hot Licks logo, artwork, designed by Jon Pasche, 1970, London, England
    V&A South Kensington
    Not on display
  3. guitar
    Les Paul guitar, made by Gibson, 1960s, US
    V&A East Museum
    On display
  4. award
    Academy Award, designed by Cedric Gibbons, made by R.S. Owens, 1952, United States
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  5. costume
    Stage costume worn by Shirley Bassey, designed by Douglas Darnell, 1960s, England
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  6. poster
    Eightpence a Mile: The New Stop Press Review, poster, designed by G.K. Benda, printed by David Allen & Sons, about 1913, London, England
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  7. costume
    Film costume from 'Star Wars', designed by John Mollo and Brian Muir, 1977 – 80, England
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  8. costume design
    Costume design for the ballet 'Amor', designed by P Croce, late 19th century, Italy
    V&A South Kensington
    Not on display
  9. poster
    Smile Orange, theatre poster, designed by Eureka! Design Consultants with photography by Rick Elgood, 1992, England
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  10. theatre costume
    Theatre costume, designed by Philip Prowse, made by Bonn & Mackenzie, 1981, London, England
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  11. set model
    Set model, designed by Henry Emden, 1903, Britain
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  12. poster
    Poster advertising Anansi's Royal Quest at the Unicorn Theatre, 1983, England
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  13. painting
    Queen Elizabeth Viewing the Performance of 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' at the Globe Theatre, oil painting, by David Scott, 1840, Britain
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  14. painting
    Leonide Massine waiting for his cue to go on stage in 'On With the Dance', painting, painted by Gluck, 1925, Great Britain
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  15. theatre box (audience space)
    Theatre box from the Palace Theatre of Varieties, designed by Bertie Crewe, 1903 – 1904, Britain
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
islamic tile
person working with clay with their hands
two women sat on a long green chair looking away from camera
woman working with a pen in hand on a black mannequin head

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Costume for The Chinese Conjurer in Massine's ballet 'Parade', designed by Pablo Picasso, 1917

Collections

Costume

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