William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare can be found throughout the V&A’s collections. His work is preserved in print in the 1623 First Folio and in recordings of contemporary stagings, filmed for the V&A’s National Video Archive of Performance. Paintings and prints, photographs, designs and costumes document how the plays have been interpreted through the centuries and capture performances of great Shakespearean actors such as David Garrick, Ira Aldridge, Laurence Olivier and Judi Dench.
Features
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Shakespeare's First Folio
Discover the secrets of a 400-year-old copy of Shakespeare's collected plays
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Handling Ian McKellen's Shakespeare costume
Find out about the importance of handling theatre costumes with care
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The story of theatre
As told through our fascinating collection
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Conserving Vivien Leigh's Cleopatra Cloak
Step behind the scenes and experience the conservation process up close
Collection highlights
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Shakespeare's First Folio, book, by William Shakespeare, printed by Edward Blount and Isaac Iaggard, 1623, London, EnglandV&A South Kensington -
Bust of Shakespeare, produced to advertise Flowers Ales , mid 20th century, BritainV&A South Kensington -
Ira Aldridge as Othello in 'Othello' by William Shakespeare, painting, about 1848, Great BritainV&A South Kensington -
Theatre costume for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', designed by Sally Jacobs, BritainV&A East Storehouse -
Vivien Leigh as Titania in William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', unknown photographer, Old Vic Theatre, 1937, London, UK -
Vivien Leigh's headdress for her role as Titania in William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', designed by Oliver Messel, made by Thérèse Clement, 1937, LondonV&A East Storehouse -
Queen Elizabeth Viewing the Performance of 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' at the Globe Theatre, painting, by David Scott, BritainV&A East Storehouse -
Costume design for Paul Robeson as Othello in William Shakespeare's 'Othello', by Loudon Sainthill, about 1959, BritainV&A East Storehouse -
Richard Burton as Henry V in William Shakespeare's 'Henry V', oil painting, by Frank Owen Salisbury, about 1956, BritainV&A South Kensington -
The Downfall of Shakespeare Represented on a Modern Stage, painting, by William Dawes, 1763 – 65, BritainV&A South Kensington -
Costume worn by Dame Judi Dench as Cleopatra in William Shakespeare's 'Antony and Cleopatra' at the National Theatre, designed by Alison Chitty, made by Edward Percival, 1987, London, UKV&A South Kensington -
Costume for Laurence Olivier as Hamlet, designed by Roger Furse, 1948, BritainV&A South Kensington -
David Garrick as Richard III, ceramic figurine, by Derby Porcelain factory, about 1772, Derby, EnglandV&A East Storehouse -
Mark Rylance as Olivia, Stephen Fry as Malvolio in William Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night', 2012, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London, England -
The Tempest, poster, by Charles Buchel, designed 1904, printed 1921, BritainV&A South Kensington -
Costume for Romeo worn by Rudolf Nureyev in William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', designed by Ezio Frigerio and Franca Squarciapino, made by Mathilde Sandberg, 1977, BritainV&A East Storehouse -
Headdress for the Gravedigger in William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', theatre costume, designed by Leslie Hurry, 1942, BritainV&A East Storehouse -
Set model for William Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' at the National Theatre, designed by Ralph Koltai, 1967, London, UKV&A South Kensington -
Set design for 'Romeo and Juliet' at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford, designed by Motley, about 1958, BritainV&A East Storehouse -
Ellen Terry in 'Much Ado About Nothing', unknown photographer, October 1882, London, EnglandV&A East Storehouse
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Header image:
Shakespeare's First Folio, 1662, England. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London