Costumes Quote by Jim Dale
“We talk about theatre museums filled with old costumes and things. What we also need is a theatre museum of the old routines on videotape. We are only the custodians of those techniques, and they should be preserved.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 2002, BBC Radio, Jim Dale on theatre preservation
He argues for preserving not just physical costumes but also the recorded performance techniques and routines that define theatre history
In simple terms: Preserve both the visual and procedural heritage of theatre
Document and archive performance practices for future generations
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- museum curation
- theatre training
- digital archiving
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure authenticity in archived performances?
- What role should technology play in preserving theatre?
Live performance is fleeting; recordings may not capture nuance