Special Projects
Theatre Heritage Australia regularly undertakes a range of Special Projects, from publishing books and original research, to digitising important theatrical records. Keep up to date with the latest projects by clicking on the links below.
Entertaining Mr Coppin
COMING SOON
Entertaining Mr. Coppin: An Australian showman in Civil War America will recount an unlikely theatrical tour, conveying the gaslight and greasepaint atmosphere of a vanished world and the peculiar sights and sounds of mid 19th century American life.
The Falk Studios
In 2019, Theatre Heritage Australia undertook a major digitisation project of The Falk Album. In 2020 we produced a limited edition book to highlight this extraordinary collection.
Australian Theatre Programs
Theatre Heritage Australia has digitised hundreds of theatre programs, some dating back to the early 1900s.
Oral History program
In 2022, Theatre Heritage Australia will begin a new Oral History program, with the focus on Australian performing arts practitioners.
I Have a Song to Sing: the memoirs of Viola Tait
Viola Tait’s memoirs are important as both a personal history and a social history, providing not just details of a life in the theatre, but about the theatre in Britain, America and Australia during the middle of the twentieth century.
JCW Scene Books
These ten digitised scene books provide a rare account of over 440 theatrical productions staged in Australia between the 1890s and 1930s.
Digital Galleries
Theatre Heritage Australia maintains an ever increasing collection of digital assets including rare books, archival images and audio.
Audio
THA maintains a growing collection of audio files, including archival recordings and interviews.
JCW Scene Books
Digitized Scene Books from the JC Williamson collection held by Scenic Studios, Preston.
The Falk Album
Digitized album containing over 1600 prints of predominately theatrical sitters taken during the 1890s by H. Walter Barnett’s Falk Studios in Sydney.
Riley/Hailes Scrapbook
Theatrical and musical items including engravings, photographs, newspaper cuttings, and entrance tickets.
Books
THA has digitised a number of important books, pamphlets & programs, now out of copyright
Photo galleries
The THA has a digital collection of rare production photographs, many from the JC Williamson era.
Melbourne Theatres
Early production photos
The Chalk Garden
The Gondoliers
Trial by Jury
Pirates of Penzance
My Fair Lady
The Pajama Game
Yeomen of the Guard
The Mikado
c.1958