Spotlight: What’s New at the Theatre Collection  

 From 12th of December 2024 - May 2025 

This exhibition unveils a selection of recently acquired and never-before-displayed material from the University of Bristol Theatre Collection. From 2018 to 2024, more than 400 additions have been made to the Collection through a rigorous process known as accessioning – the formal act of acquiring and incorporating material into an archive or museum's holdings. 

This ongoing effort is central to preserving the rich history of British theatre and live art. While every item in the Theatre Collection holds great value, those featured in this exhibition have been chosen for their embodiment of the Collection’s core mission: to curate a world-class archive that reflects the diversity of British theatre and live art, offering unique insights into their creative processes and wider cultural contexts. 

The featured collections include: the archive of Thomas Baptiste, a renowned actor, singer, and equality advocate; the papers of theatre producer Ross Taylor; the Robert Stansbury Miniature Stage Lighting Archive; and our most recent addition, the Forkbeard Fantasy Archive.