Display: Spotlight on Music Hall

Music Hall was the dominant form of popular entertainment in London and Middlesex from the 1890s to the 1920s, far removed from its humble beginnings in pub back-rooms. Purpose-built venues sprang up along high streets and in every district, offering variety bills of comedy, song, dance, and spectacle to packed houses night after night. Music Hall was truly mass entertainment—accessible, lively, and beloved across class divides—shaping the cultural life of the capital like no other art form of its time.

View some of the treasures from around the 1890s - 1920s held at The London Archives in a small but striking display. Discover stars of the music hall stage, the architectural development of the music hall theatres and how the people and spaces of Music Hall were licensed, regulated and commented upon in contemporary documents.

This small display is free to visit during our normal opening hours, from 6 October 2025 until 5 February 2026, and is located within the Information Area on the first floor at The London Archives.

• Please note: There will be no access to the display during our annual closure from 4.30pm on Thursday 30 October until Monday 17 November 2025 at 10am, and no access during our Christmas closure from 4.30pm on Tuesday 23 December 2025 until 10am on Monday 5 January 2026.
• We encourage everyone to book a free ticket as it helps us to manage visitor numbers. You are welcome to turn up without a ticket to see the display, but please notify us if you are visiting in a group larger than 6 people by emailing [email protected]

Interested to know more about Music Hall? Join our one day Symposium and Showcase on Saturday 1 November. Details and tickets: Centre Stage: Music Hall at The London Archives.

The above images show examples of Music Hall related items from the collections at The London Archives:

• Event Banner features details from a colourful theatre programme.
• Black and white photograph of the exterior of Collins Music Hall.
• Plan of a theatre, with different areas shaded in different colours.

Host or Publisher London Metropolitan Archives