University of Bristol Theatre Collection facts for kids
The University of Bristol Theatre Collection is like a giant treasure chest filled with the history of British theatre! It started in 1951 to help students at the University of Bristol learn about drama. Now, it's one of the biggest places in the world that keeps records and items about British theatre history. It's also a special museum and archive, meaning it's officially recognized for keeping important historical items safe. It's also home to the Live Art Archive.
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How It Started
The Theatre Collection began in 1951. A professor named Glynne Wickham thought it was important for universities to study drama by looking at how plays were actually performed. He helped buy the first items for the collection. Money from the Rockefeller Foundation helped set it up. From the very beginning, it was meant to be a place where both students and theatre artists could use the materials.
In 1969, the University gave more money to make sure the Collection had good storage and easy access. The first official person in charge was Anne Brooke Barnett, who looked after everything from 1966 to 1989. Christopher Robinson took over from her until 1999.
In 2010, the Collection received funding from The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). This money helped make sure it was open and useful to many more students and researchers.
Special Recognition
The University of Bristol Theatre Collection has received several important awards and recognitions. In 2001, it became a Registered museum. Then, in 2009, it earned full Accredited Museum status from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, which is recognized by the Arts Council of England.
In 2017, it became the first university museum to get Archive Service Accreditation from The National Archives. This means it's a top-notch place for keeping historical records. The National Archives said that the Theatre Collection is really good at understanding what people need and delivers amazing results. They also said it's very creative and shares its knowledge with other archives and museums.
What's Inside the Collection
The University of Bristol Theatre Collection has all sorts of items related to British theatre. This includes documents, stage designs, posters, scripts, costumes, photos, and videos.
The collection has materials from many different types of people and groups involved in theatre:
Theatre People
- Academics & Historians: People who study and write about theatre history, like Glynne Wickham.
- Actors: Items from famous performers such as Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, Sir Henry Irving, Joyce Grenfell, and Honor Blackman.
- Designers: People who create the look of the stage, costumes, and lighting, like Edward Gordon Craig and Oliver Messel.
- Directors: Those who guide the actors and the play, including Norman Ayrton.
- Writers: People who write plays and scripts.
Theatre Groups
The collection also holds items from many theatre organizations, including famous ones like the Bristol Old Vic Company and the Old Vic (London). It also has records from groups like Desperate Men and Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory.
Other Professionals
You can also find collections from many other people who help make theatre happen. This includes producers, managers, agents, photographers, and costume specialists.
Mander and Mitchenson Collection
In 2010, a huge collection of theatre items from two actors and historians, Raymond Mander and Joe Mitchenson, was moved to the University of Bristol Theatre Collection. This collection was already one of the biggest in the country. By adding it, the University of Bristol Theatre Collection became one of the largest British theatre history archives in the world! It's now second only to the Victoria and Albert Museum's Theatre & Performance Archive in the UK.
Live Art Archives
The Live Art Archive keeps physical information about "Live Art" or "Performance Art." This type of art often involves a live performance by an artist. The archive includes records, publications, and videos from many different live art projects and artists. It has materials from the National Review of Live Art and the Franko B Archive, among others.
Visiting the Collection
The Theatre Collection has a special library with over 25,000 books and many journals about all parts of theatre. You can look at the list of books on the main University of Bristol Library website.
Students, researchers, and anyone interested can visit the reading room to look at the books and historical items. It's a good idea to make an appointment before you go. This helps them get the items ready for you, especially since some are stored in a different place.
There's also a small area where they show off different parts of the collections. This exhibition space is open to everyone.
