The Australian Performing Arts Collection is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a landmark exhibition, ‘ENCORE!’, showcasing 50 significant costumes, instruments, and props that represent the breadth and depth of Australia’s performing arts history. The collection, which began in the 1970s but holds artifacts stretching back 170 years, features over 875,000 items, with this exhibition highlighting a curated selection that spans circus, dance, music, opera, and theatre.
A Glimpse into Australia’s Performing Arts Heritage
Visitors to ‘ENCORE!’ can expect to see a dazzling array of items that have shaped Australian entertainment. Among the most anticipated pieces are Kylie Minogue’s famous gold hotpants, worn in her iconic ‘Spinning Around’ music video, and the elegant gown donned by Olivia Newton-John during her 1978 US television special. The exhibition also features the maracas of legendary entertainer Peter Allen and Helen Reddy’s Grammy Award for her chart-topping hit ‘I Am Woman’.
Further enriching the display are artifacts such as the ‘L’amour’ sign, originally created for Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin’s stage opera *La Bohème* and later featured in their acclaimed films like *Moulin Rouge!* and *Romeo + Juliet*. Nick Cave’s personal visual journal from 1987 offers an intimate look into the artist’s creative process. For the first time, the exhibition will also display the drum kit belonging to Rob Hirst, drummer for the influential band Midnight Oil, which was acquired for the collection through a crowd-funding effort by fans.
Curatorial Vision: Bringing Ephemeral Arts to Life
Sandra Bruce, Director of Collections and Exhibitions at Arts Centre Melbourne, explained that the exhibition was three years in the making. “We’ve called this exhibition Encore! because, for us, that’s what this exhibition is,” she stated, emphasizing the aim to evoke cherished memories for visitors and introduce new audiences to Australia’s rich performing arts narrative. “Performing arts, in of itself, is ephemeral,” Ms. Bruce noted. “We’re bringing these things back to life for people, or we’re potentially introducing stories, objects, characters, costumes to a whole new audience.”
One of the initial items encountered by visitors is a handcrafted vest made for the esteemed Indigenous singer-songwriter Archie Roach. “They were very precious to him and he very kindly left them to us,” Ms. Bruce shared, highlighting the personal significance of the garments.
A Diverse Tapestry of Australian Talent
Ian Jackson, curator of dance and opera, described the challenge of selecting just 50 items from the vast collection. “What we wanted to do was to give people a sense of the range and diversity of the performing arts in Australia throughout history,” Mr. Jackson said. His personal favourite is the silk cloak designed by Parisian couturier Jean-Philippe Worth, worn by the legendary soprano Dame Nellie Melba in an 1891 performance of *Lohengrin* in St. Petersburg. “It was one of the very first items that we collected way back in 1977,” he recalled. “We know that [Dame Nellie] loved it because she tells stories in her autobiography about how much it meant to her. It’s just amazing that this has survived more than 120 years to come down to us.”
Margaret Marshall, curator of theatre and popular entertainment, hopes the exhibition will convey the sheer joy of Australian performing arts, alongside the compelling stories behind the objects. She elaborated on the narrative behind Minogue’s hotpants: “They were a bit of a turning point in her career, and there’s a great story that goes with them.” Marshall recounted how the iconic garment was reportedly purchased for a mere 50 pence at a London flea market by a photographer friend, and was chosen by Minogue’s stylist the night before the ‘Spinning Around’ video shoot.
Beyond the Stars: A Broader Spectrum
The exhibition doesn’t solely focus on global superstars. It also includes a detailed set model of a Carlton terrace house from the Melbourne Theatre Company’s 1995 production of Ray Lawler’s *Summer of the Seventeenth Doll*. Additionally, a substantial 500-page scrapbook from Wirth’s Circus, dating back to the early 20th century, is on display. This heavy tome requires two people to handle, underscoring the scale of historical documentation within the collection. The beloved Ossie Ostrich puppet, a fixture from the television show *Hey Hey It’s Saturday*, also makes an appearance, having been gifted by puppeteer Ernie Carroll.
Exhibition Details and Significance
‘ENCORE!’ opens at Hamer Hall within the Arts Centre Melbourne. The exhibition runs until May 9th. Its launch coincides with a period of significant cultural activity in Melbourne, with Minogue also scheduled to perform at the nearby Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the AFL Grand Final pre-game entertainment.
Ms. Marshall highlighted Melbourne’s vital role in the performing arts landscape. “Melbourne’s always been really key in the performing arts zone,” she commented. “We have a really healthy music scene and theatre scene, and opera and dance as well, a long tradition of circus, particularly on the site where the Arts Centre is. Our collection has reflected that over 50 years as we’ve tried to document what’s gone on.” The exhibition serves as a testament to this enduring legacy, celebrating half a century of preserving and presenting Australia’s vibrant performing arts history.
