The Stage

A cunning plan

Published Monday 30 April 2007 at 11:30

The Stage reminds readers in each issue of its vital support for the re-opening of the Theatre Museum.

The Theatre Museum Guardians’ campaign has raised £150k in pledge.

Ironically its closure has created the time and opportunity to research a professional plan not just to re-open, but to create a new, revitalised museum. The chairman of the V and A trustees, Paula Ridley, Sir Christopher Frayling, a trustee and chairman of the Arts Council, and Richard Pulford, SOLT-TMA director, have been contacted and have all made an initial response.

The plan is two-fold. First to dynamically develop the Covent Garden site as a Theatre in Performance Museum with actors bringing attractive exhibitions of the history of theatre in London to life by enacting scenes in period costume.

This would be a hit in terms of cultural tourism, and has the support of Westminster City Council and GLA Cultural Tourism (Ken Livingstone has written to give his support). Plus a Theatre Design Gallery set up by the V and A at South Kensington. A combination which would make them world leaders in Theatre Museum development. Funding via active income generation, sponsorship and the Heritage Lottery Fund has been realistically researched.

It is fair to say the V and A has not made many friends by the museum’s closure, and we are all wondering why SOLT withdrew from initial collaboration. Now is the time to re-initiate the move to set up a professional consortium and call an exploratory meeting. There would be widespread support from across the theatre industry and profession for an active redevelopment.

Stuart Bennett

London Drama

Diorama Arts NW1