Showcasing Theatre Memories: A Case Study
Abstract
From stage to archives, performing arts materials never stop to engage
with the audience. Even when they are archived, performing
arts documents and objects remain a source of research and inspiration
for theatre professionals and become a sort of aide-mémoire for
the patrons who were present at the performances. When displayed,
documents and objects bring back the physical memory of being part
of a performance. This article has four goals: to provide insight on how to set up a
small museum, as well as a display area within an archive; to consider
how to adapt and fund existing spaces, specifically a warehouse
and a commercial store space, for exhibition purposes; to offer ideas
and suggestions based on practical experience and address the joy of
keeping theatrical memories alive through continuous engagement;
finally, to candidly discuss successes and failures. As a case study, I
discuss my experience at the Stratford Festival Archives (Stratford, Ontario, Canada):
the renovation and creation of a 4,000-square-foot display area within the archives and
the creation of a museum/exhibition space in Downtown Stratford
for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.