West End

The Theatre Museum

Literally next door to the London Transport Museum is the Theatre Museum, which stands before you in an admittedly unassuming manner. Unusual for an art form that expounds grand emotions and inspired ravings and rantings. Once you walk inside, however, there is great depth and a lot of colour and vigour. Opened only in 1987, the Theatre Museum in effect includes every kind of art performed on a stage and even, for that matter, on a tightrope across the Niagara Falls. The exhibitions do not only include theatre per se, but opera, ballet, magic acts and rock concerts.

The Theatre Museum especially likes to concentrate on materials and memorabilia. This may seem rather trivial and pedantic at first, but for lovers of the stage they are like gold dust. Memories and collector's items to treasure. The museum's tribute to British theatre is not, of course, understated. It all begins, predictably, with Shakespeare, even though there was a lot of theatre before him. A reconstruction of The Globe Theatre in 1614, where Shakespeare's plays were performed during his time, is especially fascinating. Memorabilia of the great actors of that age such as Garrick are certainly in evidence.

Theatre props, costumes, stage models, and audio-visual curiosities are highlights, as indeed are plenty of famous puppets and prints and drawings of famous entertainers. You even have the chance to imagine that you are behind the scenes a dramatic production as make-up demonstrations are conducted for your sense of wonder. The costumes, it has to be said, are a marvel as well.

Ballet is very well represented at the Theatre Museum, and is especially noteworthy for the first British prima ballerina, Dame Alicia Markova, whose costumes are on display for your enjoyment. From a commercial point of view, a lot of you will enjoy the costumes worn by famous rock stars such as Mick Jagger, Elton John and John Lennon. Rock'n'roll at its most potent and flamboyant. Whether you like any form of preening and posing in front of large hordes of people, you should be transfixed by the Theatre Museum, which is suitably located in the heart of Theatreland.

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