Theatre and Performance Archives

Archives held in the Theatre and Performance collections

The following theatre and performance archive catalogues are available online:

• Nancy Adam Bequest of Theatrical Notebooks and Scrapbooks, 1867-1950s
• Carlotta Addison scrapbooks, 1864–1899
• Papers of ACTC Theatrical and Cinematic, agents of Christopher Fry, 1930s–2002
• Arts Council of Great Britain records, 1928–1997
• Arts Theatre and Unicorn Theatre, archive, 1902–1982
• Allan Aynesworth Collection, 1912–1955
• Ronnie Barker Collection, 1929-2005
  
• Benesh Dance Notation Collection, c.1977–2010
  
• Rita Bernard Archive, c.1940s–1950s
• Black Mime Theatre, company records, 1984–1997
• Gladys Calthrop Design Collection, 1980s-1950s
  
• Ethel and Murray Carrington scrapbooks, c.1910s–1920s
• David Cassidy Collection, 1972–1976
• Michael Codron Ltd.: Financial Papers, 1958–1983
• C. Hayden Coffin Scrapbook Collection, 1912–1929
  
• Jack Cole Scrapbook Collection, 1910s–1970s
  
• Bertie Crewe, architect: architectural drawings of theatres, 1903–1914
• Cheek by Jowl, theatre company records, 1981–1999
• Contemporary Dance Trust, archive, 1957–1998
• Clemence Dane, playwright and novelist: papers
• Alice Delysia Archive, c.1889–1979
• Winifred Dolan Collection, c.1867–1958
• Anton Dolin Cutting Books (1), 1916-1944
• Anton Dolin Cutting Books (2), 1926-1952
  
• Maudie Edwards Archive, 1906–1991
• Ekstrom Collection: Diaghilev and Stravinsky Foundation, 1902–1984
• English Stage Company / Royal Court Theatre, archive, 1934–2007
• Collection of research material on Edith Evans, 1910s-1970s
  
• Christopher Fry, playwright: papers, 1902–2008
• Alfred Fagon, playwright, actor and poet, papers, 1966–1989
• Felicia Fermin and Roy Lorraine Collection, c.1900s-1930s
• Collection relating to Harold Fielding’s Cinderella, c.1958
  
• David Gahr Collection of Photographs, c.1960s–1970s
• Larry Grayson Collection, 1923–1995
  
• Elsie Griffin and Ivan Menzies, opera singers and actors: papers, 1905–2007
• Owen Hale Collection, 1970s–1980s
• Tom Heslewood Collection, 1868–1958
• Beryl Hoare photograph album collection, 1914-1923
  
• Millie Howes, actress, and 'The Devil Bird', theatre sketch: papers c.1840–c.1940
• Martita Hunt Collection, c.1910s -1960s
  
• Douglas H. Jeffery Archive, 1930–2007
• Tom Kirby and Tom Kenneth Walls Collection, 1922–1985
  
• Doreen Langton-Jones Scrapbooks, 1912–1928
• Drury Lane Design Collection, 1888–1938
• Drury Lane Theatre Archive – New Renter’s Trustees, 1812–1892
• Drury Lane Treasury Sheets, 1921–1927
• Leacroft Archive, 1600–2003
  
• Francis Lister Collection, 1920–1954
• Emile Littler Archive, 1890s–1960s
• London Pavillion Ltd / Theatres Consolidated, theatre management companies, records, 1887-ca. 1950
• Lyston Lyle Scrapbook Collection, 1904–1915
  
• Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, Box Office Returns, 1964–1966
• Sally Jacobs Collection, stage designer, about 1966-1970
  
• Sir Ian McKellen, actor, papers, 1967–2007
• Frank Matcham and Company, theatre architects, records, 1881–1972
• Horace and Edna Mashford, performers: papers, c.1930–1945
• Richard Matthews Collection, 1920s-1970s
  
• Oliver Messel Collection, ca. 1700–1978
• Collection of New Scala Theatre Photographs, c.1910 –1950s
• Nora Nicholson Collection, 1879–1988
• Peter Noble Collection, 1943–1951
• Andrew Phillips Photographs, c.2000–2005
• Osiris Players Collection, 1920s-1980s
  
• Paines Plough Theatre Company, records, 1975–2008
• Bernard Partidge Drawings Collection, 1861–1905
• Collection of material relating to French prisoners' theatricals at Portchester Castle, c.1810–1811
  
• CD Power, architect: drawings, 1902–1985
  
• Sir Michael Redgrave Archive, [1890]–1996
• Harry Relph (Little Titch) volumes, 1881–1974
  
• Cliff Richard Scrapbooks, 1957–1961
• Brian Rix Archive, 1942–2009
• Patrick Robertson & Rosemary Vercoe Archive, 1950s–1980s
  
• Round House and Open Space, theatre companies, records, 1962–1983
• Trixie Scales Archive, 1920–1970
• Small Archives Collection, ca. 1875–2006
• George Speaight Archive, early 19th century–20th century
• Collection of H M Tennent correspondence relating to the 1954 Parliamentary Debate, 1954
  
• Ellen Terry Collection, 1856–1976
• Paul Scofield Collection, 1807–2010
  
• Shared Experience Theatre Company Archive, 1976–2008
• Sphinx Theatre Company (formerly The Women's Theatre Group), archive, 1973–2005
• John Stone Collection, 1944–1982
  
• Peter Streuli Archive, 1939–1978
• Talawa Theatre Company, records, 1962–2007
• Tiata Fahodzi Theatre Company Archive, 1998–2009
• Tom Taylor Collection, c.1950s–1980s
  
• Temba Theatre Company and the Black Theatre Collection, records, 1973  - 1992
• Tricycle Theatre, archive, 1972–2004
• Sybil Thorndike and Lewis Casson Archive, 1865-1971
  
• Larry Turnbull Circus Scrapbooks and Audio Recordings, c.1930 –1980s
• Unity Theatre, theatre company, records, 1932–2001
• Archive of Sandra Wells, Ventriloquist and Pantomine Artist, c.1934–1970
• Emlyn Williams Correspondence, 1964-1971
• Windmill Theatre Press and Marketing Material, c. 1940s-1960s
  
• Esme Wynne and Noel Coward Collection, 1921–1994

Materials in these collections may be viewed in person, by visiting the V&A Reading Room at Blythe House. Further archive collections are catalogued at broadest collection level on the National Art Library online catalogue.