One of the most joyous aspects of working in theatre is the occasional chance to step behind the curtain and see the incredible work that goes into creating a show up close in all its beautiful, fascinating and minute detail.
While we do our best to give you an insight into this usually unseen world at Official London Theatre, nothing can beat seeing it with your own two eyes, which is in part why we are so excited about Curtain Up, the V&A’s exceptional theatrical experience that will open this week after years of planning.
Presented by the legendary South Kensington museum, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at the Lincoln Center and the Society of London Theatre, Curtain Up will offer the public the unique chance to explore every aspect of how Olivier and Tony Award-winning shows are created, with everything from stunning costumes and set boxes to rarely seen theatre artefacts on display.
We met with two of Curtain Up’s creators, Anna Landreth Strong and Harriet Usher, to find out more and to take an exclusive tour to show you what you can expect. As you can see from the video above, it’s a veritable feast for theatre lovers and anyone curious about how much goes into presenting a finished product on stage.
Far more than just an exhibition, every nook and cranny of Curtain Up takes you into a different world, whether that’s tripping the light fantastic in The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time’s immersive display or reading an intimate letter from Ian McKellen to an understudy, scribbled lovingly on an napkin.
You are invited to explore the exhibition from 9 February to 31 August. Visit the V&A Museum’s website to find out more and plan your visit.