Behind The Mask @ His Majesty's Theatre

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Mon 10 Sep 2012 - Thu 13 Dec 2012

The museum was opened in 2001 and set in the basement adjacent to the cabaret venue DownStairs at the Maj, 825 Hay St, Perth.

The museum is a treasure trove of photographs, programmes, posters, press clippings, puppets, scrapbooks, sheet music, designs, recordings, scripts, scores and costumes.

Constantly changing exhibitions celebrate Western Australia's entertainment heritage, from the colony's early days, through the Gold Rush, to the computerised present.

All areas of performing arts are represented: opera, ballet, contemporary dance, musicals, drama, cabaret, vaudeville, revue, circus and stand-up comedy.

From Monday 10 September, we proudly celebrate our 50th Exhibition "Behind the Mask".

Take the painted face of Bonza the Clown and the Commedia dell'Arte mayhem of Scaramouche, Pierrot, Harlequin and Columbine!

Add the glories of Lucia di Lammermoor and its costumes as worn by soprano Emma Matthews at His Majesty's Theatre in 2012. Then top up with not one, but two Frank Thrings! Father Frank established Perth's Regent Theatre in 1927 and son Frank, blitzed the screen in Hollywood epics such as Ben Hur, El Cid, The Vikings and King of Kings.

Each tries to upstage the other in this grand display of showbiz art and artifacts selected from a treasure trove of photographs, posters, press clippings, scrapbooks, designs, set models, costumes, scripts, scores, sheet music and other historic pieces.

"It's been a grand discovery from collecting the mass of material and connecting it to the Perth experience", said theatre historian Ivan King. "We have relied on the generosity of the general public and the continuing support of His Majesty's Theatre Foundation."

There are over 40,000 catalogued items in the collection. Here's to the next 40,000!

Admission by gold coin donation or item of memorabilia. Open Monday to Friday, 10am – 4pm.

#attractions
#exhibitions
#galleries
#museums
#performing_arts
#perth_city
#theatre
#theatres
#september
#october
#november
#december
!date 10/09/2012 -- 13/12/2012
%wnperth