The Theatre Museum to close in January 2007

The Theatre Museum to close in January 2007

It has been announced that The Theatre Museum in Covent Garden, is likely to close in January 2007.

The V&A and the Royal Opera House announced, with regret, they are unable to go ahead with the partnership to run a new centre on the site of the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden. The organisations said the sticking point had been the investment necessary to transform the current building into a suitable space for the future and the ongoing running costs.

The V&A said its Trustees will now review the situation but it is likely that the Theatre Museum will close in January. The V&A is proposing a new programme for its theatrical collections. This will include a new gallery at the V&A in South Kensington, touring displays, education activities and a major exhibition in 2009 of the collection’s Diaghilev and Ballets Russes costumes, designs and stage cloths to mark the first performance of the Ballets Russes.

Tony Hall, Chief Executive of The Royal Opera House, said: “We spent a lot of time seeing whether we could devise an exciting plan for the Museum, and secure the funding to make it work. All that effort and energy was worthwhile, but sadly the conclusion we have come to is that it is not going to work."

Mark Jones, the Director of the V&A, said:“Both the V&A and the Royal Opera House had high hopes that together and with partners we could establish a new centre in Covent Garden. Sadly, the support we need has not been forthcoming. I am grateful to Tony Hall and the Royal Opera House management and Trustees for giving us the opportunity to explore all the possibilities together and am only sad that, in this instance, a partnership is not possible.


Originally published on

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