Collections
Costume
Explore
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...
Read more Read less
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.
Collection highlights
-
Dance costume, Adzido Pan African Dance Company, 1999 -
Rolling Stones Hot Licks logo, artwork, designed by Jon Pasche, 1970, London, England -
Les Paul guitar, made by Gibson, 1960s, US -
Academy Award, designed by Cedric Gibbons, made by R.S. Owens, 1952, United States -
Stage costume worn by Shirley Bassey, designed by Douglas Darnell, 1960s, England -
Eightpence a Mile: The New Stop Press Review, poster, designed by G.K. Benda, printed by David Allen & Sons, about 1913, London, England -
Film costume from 'Star Wars', designed by John Mollo and Brian Muir, 1977 – 80, England -
Costume design for the ballet 'Amor', designed by P Croce, late 19th century, Italy -
Smile Orange, theatre poster, designed by Eureka! Design Consultants with photography by Rick Elgood, 1992, England -
Theatre costume, designed by Philip Prowse, made by Bonn & Mackenzie, 1981, London, England -
Set model, designed by Henry Emden, 1903, Britain -
Poster advertising Anansi's Royal Quest at the Unicorn Theatre, 1983, England -
Queen Elizabeth Viewing the Performance of 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' at the Globe Theatre, oil painting, by David Scott, 1840, Britain -
Leonide Massine waiting for his cue to go on stage in 'On With the Dance', painting, painted by Gluck, 1925, Great Britain -
Theatre box from the Palace Theatre of Varieties, designed by Bertie Crewe, 1903 – 1904, Britain
Features
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
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
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