An informal support event hosted by the actress Vanessa Redgrave took place last month in the Painting Gallery at the Theatre Museum. Stars such as Bianca Jagger, Calvin Klein and Alan Rickman attended.
Mark Jones and Ian Blatchford, the director and deputy director of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), which runs the Theatre Museum, were also present. One supporter described it as a 'call to arms by the profession'. He said that the V&A has been shocked at the reaction it has had to the closure.
V&A trustees are still considering moving the collection to the V&A in Kensington. The savings made by making this move would be pumped into the collection. This would create a permanent display space, major exhibitions, educational activities and significant investment in digital access. There would also be an opportunity for a touring programme. But a home for the entire collection would have to be found.
Talks with the Royal Opera House (ROH) to allow it to extend its educational activities and events into the Theatre Museum site have taken place. In a statement, the V&A said that if the ROH extended its activities, the Theatre Museum could continue to 'stage displays and educational activities in Covent Garden'.
A theatre insider said: 'My worry about the ROH is that it will be perceived as the ROH museum rather than the Theatre Museum.' A trustees meeting took place last month to discuss the way forward.
A spokeswoman for the V&A said: 'The V&A are aware of the huge support for the museum and to keep it in Covent Garden. Our discussion with the Royal Opera House is to find a working way to do that. We hope to please as many people as possible with the final decision.' The final decision is expected in the autumn.
Felicity Heywood
Mark Jones and Ian Blatchford, the director and deputy director of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), which runs the Theatre Museum, were also present. One supporter described it as a 'call to arms by the profession'. He said that the V&A has been shocked at the reaction it has had to the closure.
V&A trustees are still considering moving the collection to the V&A in Kensington. The savings made by making this move would be pumped into the collection. This would create a permanent display space, major exhibitions, educational activities and significant investment in digital access. There would also be an opportunity for a touring programme. But a home for the entire collection would have to be found.
Talks with the Royal Opera House (ROH) to allow it to extend its educational activities and events into the Theatre Museum site have taken place. In a statement, the V&A said that if the ROH extended its activities, the Theatre Museum could continue to 'stage displays and educational activities in Covent Garden'.
A theatre insider said: 'My worry about the ROH is that it will be perceived as the ROH museum rather than the Theatre Museum.' A trustees meeting took place last month to discuss the way forward.
A spokeswoman for the V&A said: 'The V&A are aware of the huge support for the museum and to keep it in Covent Garden. Our discussion with the Royal Opera House is to find a working way to do that. We hope to please as many people as possible with the final decision.' The final decision is expected in the autumn.
Felicity Heywood
