A drawings of a ballerina wearing an orange tutu and crimson bodice with ornate yellow orange and green flowers and a matching crown.
WA Museum Boola Bardip

Stories from the Stage

Location

WA Museum Boola Bardip
Perth Cultural Centre, Perth / Boorloo

Dates

–

Dates

This exhibition has now finished. Please visit Exhibitions to see what’s on at the Museum.

Wednesday 24 January – Monday 26 Februrary

Tickets

Included in General Admission

Community Exhibition Showcase, Learning Studio Foyer

This exhibition has now finished. Please visit Exhibitions to see what’s on at the Museum.

Stories From the Stage is a snapshot of diverse and resonant West Australian stories from Museum of Performing Arts (MOPA) archive.   

The local theatrical community is seen through a variety of items, reflecting on local celebrities Ernie Dingo, Tim Minchin and Jill Perryman. A journey of visual expression via designer Tom Robb and his 30-year partnership with choreographer Luis Moreno. As well as the story of Deanna Blacher who immigrated to Australia in the 1980’s and built a Flamenco empire, bringing this traditional dance style to Australasia.

We invite you to explore these short stories from the MOPA archive

Museum of Performing Arts (MOPA) was founded in 1984 by actor and local theatre historian Ivan King OAM, MOPA and began life on the third floor of Perth’s foremost Edwardian theatre, His Majesty’s Theatre (built between 1902 and 1904), in a small office, next door to the old WA Ballet wardrobe. 

Under the stewardship of the Arts & Culture Trust (formerly the Perth Theatre Trust) the archive has grown from humble beginnings of collecting meaningful Australian stories of the stage, to the broader chronicling of all performance styles including Aboriginal theatre, live music, Fringe theatre and other aspects of our rich West Australian theatrical heritage

 

A purple skirt with a full shape and white detailing in a celtic-pattern style with a small frilly white bib. The skirt is worn on a white mannequin in front of a red curtain.
An evening jacket-style with a thick black collar and and black buttons with a black and white checked pattern and red velvet tails. The costume is worn on a white mannequin in front of a red curtain.
A light pink coloured regency-era jacket with a pink collar and gold detailing with hand-embroidered flowers. The costume is worn on a white mannequin in front of a red curtain.
A red dress with a v-cut front and a long sleeves and skirts. The sleeves and skirt contains multiple rows of red ruffles. The costume is worn on a white mannequin in front of a red curtain.
An ornate ballet costume with a light pink skirt, burned satin bodice in dark purple red and yellow and a floral bra with orange petals.The costume is worn on a white mannequin in front of a red curtain.
Two people in elaborate historic costumes in black, grey and white colours stand in front of a red curtain under a spotlight. The strike a pose as though talking to each other.
A person with curly brown hair and satin dress smiles up at something while another person with a curled wig kneels behind them with a hand on their shoulder. A third person in an ornate gold and white costume stands back from the couple and looks down at them
A drawings of a ballerina wearing an orange tutu and crimson bodice with ornate yellow orange and green flowers and a matching crown. The drawing is covered in pencil annotations