We are proud to receive posthumous gifts from many Australians who entrust us with their legacy. 

Frank van Straten AM, a performing arts historian, author, and former director of the Performing Arts Museum, passed away in 2024. Over the years, Frank amassed a vast collection of Australian theatre memorabilia and played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Australian Performing Arts Collection in the late 1970s, which today holds over 850,000 objects.  

To honour Frank’s legacy in the performing arts, we have used his bequest to digitise some of the personal papers of Jim Sharman, which include materials relating to the production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). Frank wrote a history of the preceding stage show, The Rocky Horror Show, in an extensive theatre programme.

Based on the musical stage production, The Rocky Horror Picture Show quickly cemented its status as a cult classic midnight movie. Audiences would return to cinemas to talk back to the screen and dress as the characters. Considered one of the greatest musical films of all time, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has obtained longstanding cultural relevance and historical significance. In 2025, the 50th anniversary of the film’s release, the fragile and unique items in Jim Sharman’s collection (visual diaries from the period of the film’s production and the original script of the film), have been digitised thanks to Frank van Straten’s generosity.  

We’re pleased to honour donors who include the Library in their will through membership of the Hazel de Berg Circle. See more information on how to leave a gift to the Library in your will, or contact the Philanthropy team.