Astra Theatre : the structuring of a theatrical archive

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to sensitise readers and interested stakeholders to start archiving the performing arts in Malta. This research investigates how theatre archives abroad are organised and made public. Through the information acquired and literature researched the author was able to organise the first theatre archive on the islands. The write up of this study gives a detailed description of how Astra Theatre archive was organised. It describes the choices and decisions made while structuring the mentioned archive. This research also gives a description on how the catalogue, which will be used as a finding aid at Astra theatre archive, was compiled and explains the choice of the software used. This study analysed Manoel theatre archive and compared it together with Astra Theatre archive to the Royal Albert Hall Archive. This study also submits proposals on how to keep, preserve and conserve a theatre archive. The necessary policies needed to manage a theatre archive are drafted and suggestions made on how such a venture can be sustained financially. Finally the research concludes with guidelines which could be easily followed by anyone who is interested to archive a theatre archive or a small collection in the absence of a professional archivist.