Backstage Heritage Collection – Archive

A collection of historical information about the evolution of entertainment technology, with information on thousands of items of equipment from hundreds of suppliers.

Jon Primrose is the publisher and archivist of the online collection, and the creator of this website.  

Click the links below to explore the site. Equipment listings can be found by Manufacturer. You can also look through specific Collections. A simple search can be carried out in the main site search box above right.
Use a single word as the search term (e.g. search for Cantata rather than Cantata Profile or Strand rather than Strand Electric). 
NEW You can now also search for a particular product using the manufacturer name then the product (e.g. ETC Express or Strand Cantata).

If you’d like to support our work in digitising thousands of documents and artefacts, we’d really value your donation on our new GoFundMe page. Your donations will speed up the process considerably.

Classic Gear Live!

Our annual showcase at the PLASA exhibition in London

About the Backstage Heritage Collection 

Talks, Seminars and Interviews

Exclusive talks from industry professionals about aspects of technical theatre history.

Manufacturers

Browse manufacturers for product information, publications and exhibits in the collection.

Types of Equipment

A new (and growing) section look at equipment evolving across different manufacturers.

Collections

All of the exhibits & documents are part of Collections, based on who donated them to us.

Exhibits

Items of historical interest on display around the world

Library

A collection of scanned texts of historical interest

People

Information about some key practitioners in the world of entertainment technoogy, and personnel involved with various manufacturers featured in the archive.

Press & Other Archives

Articles and blogs featuring the Backstage Heritage Collection, and links to other archives

Special Collections – LX Plans 

Lighting plans from the 1950s to the present day

Special Collections – Publications 

Tabs, Lights, Strandlight, Strand News, Live, Cue and Cue International journals to read online

Timeline

Key documents and equipment for each decade – new section under construction

Help

Spares Suppliers

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