Performing arts

Ballerina Justine Summers strikes a pose for the camera. She is standing en point wearing a black tutu. She is standing infront of a textured curtain. She is staring directly at the camera.

Jim McFarlane, Justine Summers in "Divergence", the Australian Ballet, 1994, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136367403

On stage

Module

This resource is aligned to the Australian Curriculum: The Arts for years 5 & 6 students.

Digital Classroom

Plutarch, The lives of the noble Grecians and Romaines, 1612, (detail), nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2403507

Shakespeare the Reader: An Illustrated Lecture with ANU and Bell Shakespeare

See Dr Kate Flaherty and actors from Bell Shakespeare explore the link between the books that inspired Shakespeare and Shakespeare's own work.

Event

Video

Shakespeare’s First Folio: From London to Australia and many points in between

Hear Oxford academic Professor Emma Smith, the world’s leading Shakespeare scholar, discuss Shakespeare’s First Folio as part of its 400 year anniversary.

Event

Video

Hook begins his book with this preface.

Learning the piano at the Library

Ever wondered how people learned the piano in the 1780s, 1880s and 1980s?

Blog

Old book open to page reading 'As You Like It: A comedy'

Nicholas Rowe (editor), The Works of Mr. William Shakespear, 6 volumes, volume 2, London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, 1709–1710, David Nichol Smith Collection, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1355760

Shakespeare in the Library’s rare books collections

Celebrate William Shakespeare's birthday with Shakespearean gems from the National Library's rare books collections.

Blog

Bookmark This podcast, Season 1: Off Stage

Season one of the Bookmark This podcast, Off Stage, explores the vibrant characters, milestone moments and cultural treasures found in the exhibition On Stage: Spotlight on Our Performing Arts. Hosted by journalist, author, radio broadcaster and playwright Melanie Tait, Off Stage delves into the untold stories of Australia theatre, dance, music and film.

Audio

A black and white image of a man holding a microphone on a stand with 2 hands. He is holding the mic close to his mouth and has his eyes shut. He is wearing a black t-shirt and jeans.

Leigh Henningham, Brian Johnson, lead vocalist with AC/DC performing during the Back in Black Tour, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, Victoria, 27-28 February, 1981, nla.obj-3128575954

Celebrating 50 years of AC/DC

To celebrate this milestone, we are sharing 3 recently acquired photographs of the band

News article

Costume designs for Cochenille, Spalanzani and Guests from 'The Tales of Hoffmann', State Opera of South Australia 1982

Kenneth Rowell, Costume designs for Cochenille, Spalanzani and Guests (detail), The Tales of Hoffmann, State Opera of South Australia 1982, Kenneth Leslie Rowell Costume Design Archive (Pictures), nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn6938134

Kenneth Rowell: Designer for the Stage

This collection-in-focus display highlighted the work of Melbourne-born painter and designer Kenneth Rowell.

Exhibition

Program advertising a play called The Geisha at Sydney's Her Majesty's Theatre

Sidney Jones & Harry G. Musgrove (Firm) & J.C. Williamson (Firm) & Her Majesty's Theatre (Sydney, N.S.W.), "The Geisha" : souvenir programme, 1899, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-69061919

Discovery video: The PROMPT collection

The PROMPT Collection is a collection of collections. It relates to the performing arts industry in Australia from the 1880s until the present.

Video

Six women ballet dancers standing in a line

Greg Power & National Library of Australia, Annabel Knight, Juliette Barton and dancers during dress rehearsal for Sid's Waltzing Masquerade by Aszure Barton, Sydney Dance Company, The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre, 1 September 2009, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-132043442

Dance collection

Our dance collection contains portraits, manuscripts, oral history interviews, photographs, music scores, personal papers, theatre programs and memorabilia.

Information article

A drawing of a man and a woman dancing. The title of the song is 'Kangaroo Hop'.

Melville Morris & Gus Kahn, Kangaroo hop song, 1916, nla.obj-175841153

Rights and the Music Collection

A summary of copyright and rights in the Music Collection.

Information article

Dr Susannah Helman stands in the On Stage exhibition gallery.

Dr Susannah Helman, curator of the On Stage exhibition and Library curator of Rare Books and Music. Image: National Library of Australia

On Stage: Exhibition curator's overture

Uncover Australia's performing arts history with On Stage.

Exhibition

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