London’s V&A has launched a new exhibition exploring the history – and vibrant present day – of musical theatre.

Called Re:Imagining Musicals, it is located at the V&A’s Theatre and Performance Galleries, and will run until November 27, 2023. The display includes a family trail, along with lots of interactive events across October Half Term.

The free exhibition showcases much of the extensive private collection from the Bunnett-Muir Musical Theatre Archive, boasting a range of musical theatre memorabilia from cast recording LPs to costumes, that span decades of musical history.

There are 100 objects on display, many for the first time ever, including highlights such as Frozen the Musical’s toy Olaf, SIX the Musical’s Tony award winning Catherine of Aragon costume, and Shakespeare’s almost 400 year old first folio. 

SIX the Musical’s Tony award winning Catherine of Aragon costume (photo: V&A)

The exhibition explores the genesis of many revered musicals, and how they have been adapted and retold for modern audiences, such as how Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet formed the basis of West Side Story, and inspired popular new musical &Juliet, as well as how the story of Wicked made it to the stage, originating from L. Frank Baum’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900.

Simon Sladen, Senior Curator for Modern and Contemporary Theatre and Performance, who curated the display alongside Harriet Reed, said that, ‘from idea to inception, we can’t wait for visitors to step inside and explore the inspiration, imagination and evolution of musical theatre’.

There is also a particular focus on how modern musicals have responded to history, examining how Tudor era musicals SIX the Musical, Rex, and Kings and Clowns all stage the reign of King Henry VIII through radically different narratives.

Another of the exhibition’s themes includes Biographical Musicals, which considers performances that explore the lives of real people on stage, and how musicals have the power to either transform a normal person to a celebrity - something seen in British schoolboy Jamie, from Everybody Loves Jamie - or change the public perception of a real life individual, such as Egyptian Queen Nefertiti from Nefertiti the Musical.

Re:Imagining Musicals, is at the V&A, in South Kensington, until November 27, 2023.

Gramophone is thrilled to introduce our new sister title Musicals Magazine! The brand new launch issue is on sale from October 21. Find out more