on the acquisition of 20th century material. In 1993 the National Video Archive of Stage Performance (later renamed National Video Archive of Performance) filmed its first production, Richard III starring Ian McKellen. The collection included over 200 productions by 2008. Closure On 26 September 2006, it was announced that the museum would close in January 2007 because of a lack of funds. A group called The Guardians of The Theatre Museum was formed in late Autumn 2006 by the theatre community to try to support the museum. In December 2006, it was announced that the Victoria and Albert Museum and Blackpool Council were in discussions to move the archives to Blackpool, where a new National Museum of Performing Arts would be located. The reasons given by the local council were that Blackpool has a strong theatre history, has one of the most diverse and thriving theatre districts in the UK and also houses the National Theatre of Variety. On 7 January 2007, after failing to raise £5 million for refurbishment of the premises in Covent Garden, the closure of the museum was confirmed. Later status The Theatre Museum was temporarily called the V&A Theatre Collections and moved permanently to the Victoria and Albert Museum. The department contributed to the exhibitions Collaborators: UK Design for Performance 2003–2007 (in association with the Society of British Theatre Designers), Kylie – The Exhibition and The Story of the Supremes. From March 2009, to coincide with the opening of new Performance Galleries within the V&A, it became the Theatre & Performance Department. The reading room remained open to researchers at Blythe House, Kensington Olympia. The department also owned TheatreVoice. The Theatre & Performance department strengthened its work in many areas following its relocation to the V&A. Its successful exhibition programme included Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes (2011), David Bowie Is (2013), Hollywood Costume (2013), You Say You Want a Revolution (2016), and Opera: Passion, Power and Politics (2017). Several of these toured internationally, with David Bowie Is attracting two million visitors by the end of its tour. Over the same period the department continued to make major acquisitions, some supported by the National Lottery and other funders, and these involved outreach and engagement project. Notable examples are the acquisition of the Peter Brook Archive and the Glastonbury Archive. The Theatre & Performance department continued to maintain ongoing, active relationships with several