A PROJECT to make the archives of one of the UK’s oldest working theatres more accessible to the public gets underway this summer, following a £3,000 grant.

The Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond is the UK’s oldest working theatre in its original form and houses hundreds of artefacts including 18th and 19th century playbills, posters, programmes, prints and books.

The theatre has received a £3,000 grant from the Association of Independent Museums (AIM) to begin transferring a large number of the theatre’s archive from its current storage in opaque, acid-free tissue paper to new transparent sleeves that will enable easier viewing.

A team of volunteers from the theatre have received training from book and paper conservator Emma Lloyd-Jones in the correct way to handle and package the material and will begin work this month.

“The items were quite safe being stored in their original packaging but they obviously have to be unwrapped to be viewed, thereby increasing the risk of damage,” said Emma Lloyd-Jones who has previously worked as a conservator for the Universities of Oxford, Durham and York.

“The new transparent packaging means that they can easily be studied with minimal handling, which is obviously far better for the longevity of the individual objects,” she added.

The project has also included an initial assessment of the condition of the archive, and images will be taken of key items, that have not already been photographed, with a view to making them accessible online. It is hoped the project will be completed by early autumn.

There are also several prints of the theatre and actors from the Georgian period, including Miss Jane Wallis, a well-known child actor who performed at Covent Garden and Bath, and the famous Georgian actor Edmund Kean.

Anyone with an interest in local history or theatre history, together with academics and students, are able to apply to view these and other items.

The archive is an integral part of the Georgian Theatre Experience, a popular visitor attraction, which tells the story of the theatre itself and gives a unique insight into life in 18th century England. Key exhibits from the archive are on permanent display in the theatre museum but many other items are stored behind the scenes.

To arrange access to the archive, or to volunteer with the archive project, contact Susie Wood on 01748-823710 or email; susie.wood@georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk