Registered Charity
About us
Who we are
Established in 1976, the Friends of the University of Bristol Theatre Collection is a charitable membership organisation which has been active in fundraising and giving grants to the Theatre Collection for the conservation, purchase and display of artefacts, as well as organising events for members. This is a great time join the Friends as we prepare for our 50th anniversary in 2026.
The Theatre Collection, which the Friends supports, was founded in 1951 and has grown to become one of the world’s leading collections relating to the history of British theatre and live art. The Collection holds artworks, audio visual material, costumes, designs, set models, playbills and programmes of this most ephemeral of art forms. It provides a unique insight into theatre and live art, creative processes and broader cultural contexts.
The holistic approach to collecting archives and objects, and the interconnectedness between the collections, make it an outstanding research resource. The collection is visited and used by students, the theatre community, both professional and amateur, academics, artists, designers and historians, as well as enjoyed by members of the public - open to all and free to access.
The Theatre Collection holds both Accredited Museum and Accredited Archive Service status. In 2020, its collections were Designated Outstanding by the Arts Council, England.
