On Stage: Spotlight on Our Performing Arts
Houston Rogers, Portrait of Sir Robert Helpmann as Oberon, 1954, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136330433
Exhibition closed
This exhibition is now closed but you can still take a virtual tour.
On Stage shines a spotlight on Australia's performing arts history, through the National Library's extensive performing arts collections. From Dame to Dame, actor to audience, musicals to magic, honky tonk to hip hop, visitors will see their old favourites, discover new ones and see some objects that have never before been on display.
From all walks, many have stepped onto the stage.
Dancers, bands, and comedians. Lagerphone players too.
In a way, the history of Australian performing arts is the story of us.
From all walks of life, many live on forever. Some known to the sweet tooth, and voices ageless to time.
Now in theatres, opera houses, and big days out.
The National Library of Australia is proud to present On Stage; a spotlight on Australian performing arts.
Step into the limelight onsite or online.
Exhibition highlights
Houston Rogers, Portrait of Sir Robert Helpmann as Oberon, 1954, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136330433
Martin Philbey, Audience at the Falls Music and Arts Festival, Lorne, Victoria, 2007, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-147950306
George Hughes (Government Printer), Playbill for a performance of Jane Shore, The Wapping Landlady and The Miraculous Cure at the Theatre, Sydney 30 July 1796, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1419486 - the earliest surviving document printed in Australia.
Kenneth Rowell, Adelaide Festival of Arts 6 - 28 March 1970, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-133748736, courtesy Victoria Rowell
Portrait of Winifred Atwell, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-144625849
Cole Bros. Circus: the Great Con Colleano “World’s Greatest Wire Artist” Performing Forward and Backward Somersaults on the Wire, 1945, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136767748
The Bushwhackers at the Smith Family Event, Sydney Showground c.1955, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-147277128
Kristian Fredrikson, Costume design for the character of the Duke for Melbourne Theatre Company's production of The revenger's tragedy, 1975, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-509653896
Theatre Royal, Sydney, King St. Entrance in 1882, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137238900
Ian Kenins, For their 1999 South Australian Outback Tour, the Australian String Quartet staged a performance in a dried-up creek bed near the Clayton Station, 1999, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-146587118
Vritual tour
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