From a glass cabinet to the catwalk
MúzeumCafé 6.
Many theatre goers have not yet discovered the Hungarian Theatre History Museum and Institute and the Bajor Gizi Actors’ Museum connected to it, but in recent years an increasing number of visitors are learning about the institution and the items displayed there. Thanks to Viktória Kulcsár, who handles public relations, crowds of people have been able to admire the theatre costumes – not in glass cabinets but on the catwalk. “I’ve been working here for two years and during that time the institution has developed a uniform image and a logo. Our programmes are broadly advertised and several publications have also appeared. We are trying to be more attractive and open towards visitors. It is anyway the duty of an institution like this, since the world of theatre is colourful and has a focus on experience, which can be presented only in this manner. “A show of costumes is like an exhibition without being motionless. These events are not connected to a theatre performance, but the costumes selected for whatever reason are demonstrated as a phenomenon of theatre history, often with the help of actresses and models. The introduction of these events is also due to the fact that my research field involves theatre costume and within that contemporary costume, stage design and the costume collection of the institution. “I have always believed that spectacle is part of the theatre world and is something which can attract more people to the institute. If we focus on the connection between contemporary theatre costumes and fashion we can expect a large number of visitors.”