The Museum of Performing Arts
Ever wanted to know what's in the collection of almost 40,000 items at the Museum of Performing Arts?  Our ever-growing database provides information relating to performers, shows, photographs, costumes and much more. 
Click here 
to see for yourself!



Current Exhibition
ANZAC COVES
2 June to 28 August
The Entertainers and the Entertainments
(1914 – 1918)

Explore the little known cultural dimension to Anzac.
Revealed in a fascinating exhibition of Photos, Programmes, Posters and over 150 pieces of original Australian sheet music.

OPENING HOURS
Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm

LOCATION
Enter off Hay Street at His Majesty's Theatre - go down the stairs in front of Barre Lounge Cafe

COST
Entry is by gold coin donation

BOOK A TOUR
Schools and other groups can book tours on 9265 0900

RELATED LINKS
Live Performance Australia Hall of Fame. 

His Majesty’s Theatre officially opened the state’s first dedicated Museum of Performing Arts in February 2001, acknowledging the importance of preserving Western Australia’s rich and colourful entertainment history.

Situated adjacent to DownStairs at the Maj, the Museum of Performing Arts houses an extensive collection including photographs, programs, posters, press clippings, scrapbooks, scripts, sheet music, sound tapes, designs and an array of magnificent costumes.

Thanks to the generosity of donations from private collectors the world over, every genre of the performing arts is represented in the Museum’s archival collection, from music and opera, to dance, drama, vaudeville revue, circus and stand-up comedy.

The Museum’s oldest Western Australian item is a silk programme from a Perth performance of amateur theatricals in 1854, just 25 years after the establishment of the Swan River colony.
Even the room in which the Museum of Performing Arts resides has its own unique history. Prior to becoming a successful restaurant frequented by Perth’s elite in the 1980’s, the room was a health club complete with a swimming pool.

With constantly changing exhibitions of costumes and memorabilia taken from the treasure trove of the backstage archives, the Museum of Performing Arts celebrates Western Australia’s entertainment heritage from the earliest days of the Swan River Colony, through the Gold Rush to the computerised present.

GROUP TOURS


His Majesty’s Theatre historian and Museum of Performing Arts curator Ivan King, provides his theatrical expertise during informative tours of the Theatre and Museum.

We encourage and welcome schools, tour and other specialist groups to direct email enquiries and bookings to : MUSEUM OF PERFORMING ARTS

DONATIONS

Your contribution of a gold coin donation on entry to the Museum of Performing Arts will assist with maintaining the collection and making it available for public viewing in years to come.
Donations of Western Australian theatre memorabilia to the Museum of Performing Arts are welcome.

Please email: MUSEUM DONATIONS