Gay activists back Theatre Museum

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

Gay campaigners are calling on the community to support a campaign to stop the closure of the Theatre Museum in London.

The Theatre Museum claims to hold the largest collections of documents and artefacts relating to the performing arts, but now faces closure and relocation by its owner The Victoria and Albert Museum.

Activists from LGBT History Month are defending the museum after it previously donated items on lesbian and gay historical figures.

“The Theatre Museum was the first museum to actively support LGBT HM by providing us with a catalogue of its LGBT related materials – still available on our website.

“It is our turn to support this wonderfully informative and exciting museum,” a statement on its website said.

The museum is calling on people to become “Guardians” before January 7 2007, to show support for the Covent Garden venue which dates back to 1911.

Current “Guardians of the Theatre Museum” include former EastEnder turned Labour MEP Michael Cashman, actress Joanna Lumley and Dame Judi Dench.

Details can be found at www.theatremuseumguardians.org.uk