COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on live performance worldwide. Though digital technologies have made a world of entertainment accessible, they cannot replace the experience of seeing a show live.
There is magic and possibility when people gather to be entertained, challenged, moved, transported or uplifted by a story told in real time, through sound and movement. By its very nature, live performance is ephemeral. But its impact can be long-lasting.
![A person stands in an empty darkened theatre, illuminated by a single light bulb.](/sites/default/files/styles/wide/public/media/images/2022-02/NLA%20Image%203%20-%20nla.obj-2976573618.jpg?itok=GyeMlSHp)
On Stage shines a spotlight on Australia’s performing arts history, through the National Library’s extensive performing arts collections, and looks forward to the return of better days.
Selected themes
Exhibition highlights
![Black and white closeup photograph of Robert Helpmann in stage makeup, wearing a costume that features a beaded headpiece, cuff and collar.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/media/images/2022-02/NLA%20Image%201%20-%20nla.obj-136330433.jpg?h=a583a44e&itok=D0Ma2ke-)
Houston Rogers, Portrait of Sir Robert Helpmann as Oberon, nla.obj-136330433
![A crowd attend an outdoor music festival. They wear bright clothes, caps, sunglasses and have their hands raised in the air.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/media/images/2022-02/NLA%20Image%2020%20-%20nla.obj-147950306.jpg?h=ccbcd83e&itok=yty2z6Ou)
Martin Philbey, Audience at the Falls Music and Arts Festival, Lorne, Victoria, 2007, nla.obj-147950306
![Copy of a printed playbill containing details for a performance of Jane Shore at the Sydney Theatre in 1796.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/media/images/2022-02/NLA%20Image%2031%20-%20nla.obj-1419486.jpg?h=bc778823&itok=zAqdyTBG)
George Hughes (Government Printer), Playbill for a performance of Jane Shore, The Wapping Landlady and The Miraculous Cure at the Theatre, Sydney 30 July 1796, nla.obj-1419486 – the earliest surviving document printed in Australia.
![Multicoloured poster for the 1970 Adelaide Festival of the Arts.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/media/images/2022-02/NLA%20Image%2014%20-%20nla.obj-133748736%5B78%5D.jpg?h=1d6168cd&itok=5v9WR7-7)
Kenneth Rowell, Adelaide Festival of Arts: 6–28 March 1970, nla.obj-133748736, Courtesy Victoria Rowell
![A woman sits at a keyboard and smiles at the camera.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/media/images/2022-02/NLA%20Image%209%20-%20nla.obj-144625849.jpg?h=f944d64f&itok=IIZJUBKW)
Portrait of Winifred Atwell, London: Rimis, between 1950 and 1970, nla.obj-144625849
![Poster for Cole Bros. Circus featuring a young performer in long white socks walking across a tightrope.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/media/images/2022-02/NLA%20Image%206%20-%20nla.obj-136767748%5B32%5D.jpg?h=c763e28e&itok=r_wOBNnt)
Cole Bros. Circus: The Great Con Colleano “World’s Greatest Wire Artist” Performing Forward and Backward Somersaults on the Wire, USA: Cole Bros. Circus, 1945, nla.obj-136767748
![A group of performers play varied musical instruments atop a raised stage to a large crowd.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/media/images/2022-02/NLA%20Image%2013%20-%20nla.obj-147277128.jpg?h=2a92bb29&itok=1ij-SkGO)
The Bushwhackers at the Smith Family Event, Sydney Showground c.1955, nla.obj-147277128
![Sketch showing costume design featuring a long cape, blue and brown patterns and regal detailing.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/media/images/2022-02/NLA%20Image%2016%20-%20nla.obj-509653896.jpg?h=64b901d1&itok=PkMVOrGy)
Fredrikson, Kristian, 1940-2005 & Melbourne Theatre Company & Fredrikson, Kristian, 1940-2005. (1975). Costume design for the character of the Duke for Melbourne Theatre Company's production of The revenger's tragedy, 1975 / Kristian Fredrikson. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-509653896
![Black and white photograph of a row of shopfronts. One facade reads "Theatre Royal: Open Every Evening".](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/media/images/2022-02/NLA%20Image%2033%20-%20nla.obj-137238900.jpg?h=5ad3e1db&itok=hNkW4l9_)
Theatre Royal, Sydney, King St. Entrance in 1882, nla.obj-137238900
![A person stands in an empty darkened theatre, illuminated by a single light bulb.](/sites/default/files/styles/content_full_width/public/media/images/2022-02/NLA%20Image%203%20-%20nla.obj-2976573618.jpg?h=a31b7f42&itok=MQ2e2rZq)
Daniel James Boud, Ange Sullivan, Head of Lighting, Preparing a Ghost Light at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, 2020, nla.obj-2976573618, Courtesy Daniel James Boud