MS 509 02

Reference code

MS 509 02

Title

Alec Clunes’s papers relating to the Arts Theatre

Level

Series

Administrative / Biographical history

The Arts Theatre opened on 20 April 1927 as a members-only club for the performance of unlicensed plays. In 1942 Alec Clunes took over the running of the theatre and during the 11 years he was in charge, it became one of the most distinguished theatres of its time.

Date

1927-1967

Extent & medium

8 boxes and 32 volumes
[8 sub-series]

Content description

The papers mainly concern the various productions staged at the theatre between 1927 and 1953 and includes press cuttings and photographs. It also includes papers Clunes collected during his 11 years managing the theatre such as legal and financial papers and various items of ephemera.

Arrangement

The files have been arranged according to the nature of the material and are reflected by the following sub-series:
01: Press cuttings books (pre-Clunes’s management)
02: Press cutting books (during Clunes’s management)
03: Photographs – General
04: Photographs and programmes – Productions
05: Financial and Legal Papers
06: Papers relating to the Arts Theatre 1946-1947 European Tour
07: General papers