Mythic Reinvention tells the Royal Exchange’s 50 year story through the costumes, people and productions that have shaped its stage
For its 50th anniversary, the Royal Exchange Theatre has opened up its costume archive for Mythic Reinvention. The free exhibition tells the theatre’s story through five decades of productions, starting with The Rivals, the first play performed here in 1976. With more than 25,000 pieces in the archive, there was plenty to choose from. What is on display gives you a sense of how the theatre and its approach to storytelling have changed over time.
Curated by set and costume designer Leslie Travers, the exhibition leads you around the Great Hall along a red rope. I liked that it uses the whole theatre. Costumes are placed between the pillars, beside the performance space and up among the yellow framework. Looking across the hall, you can see pieces from different productions sharing the same space. It looks impressive, and it encourages you to explore parts of the building you might normally walk straight past.
The costumes are even more interesting when you get close to them. From an audience seat, you might notice the overall look of an outfit, but you would miss a lot of the detail. Here, you can take your time over the fabrics, decoration and shapes. Sketches, production photographs and programmes sit alongside some of the pieces, so you can see how an idea developed and what the finished costume looked like on stage.
There is a good flow through the years, particularly where the exhibition brings different versions of the same story together. Three King Lear costumes from 1999, 2016 and 2026 show how much can change in the way one character is presented. The decorated cloak from 1999 gives Lear the look of a traditional king, while the later designs feel quite different. I liked seeing them together and reading about the decisions behind each one.
The exhibition also tells you something about the people who shaped the Royal Exchange. One section focuses on women directing Shakespeare and explains that Phyllida Lloyd became the theatre’s first female director in 1990 with The Winter’s Tale. Costumes from that production appear alongside pieces from Marianne Elliott’s As You Like It and Roxana Silbert’s The Comedy of Errors. It adds another layer to the exhibition’s 50 year story and gives you a reason to look beyond the clothes themselves.
More recent productions are included too. Kym Marsh’s floral dress from the 2025 production of Abigail’s Party stood out to me. The dress, designed by Peter Butler and made by Sarah White, suits Beverly Moss’s confident personality. I enjoyed finding out who made the costumes as well as who wore them. It is easy to forget how many people have worked on the Royal Exchange’s productions over the years.
There are also opportunities to hear from artists about their work. Together with the sketches and other material on display, this gives you a better idea of what happens before a costume reaches the stage. That was one of my favourite parts. I go to the theatre often, but I do not always think about how a design has to work for a performer moving around the Royal Exchange’s stage, where the audience can see them from every side.
I did wish I could get closer to a few pieces. Some are displayed quite high up, while others are near tables, which makes their smaller details harder to see. It is a small point, as the way the costumes are spread through the Great Hall is part of what makes the exhibition look so good. I just wanted a better look at some of the work I had been reading about.
Mythic Reinvention is an enjoyable way to explore the Royal Exchange’s history, even if you have not seen the productions featured. The costumes are lovely in their own right, but learning about the designers and makers made me appreciate them more. I think I will be paying closer attention to what everyone is wearing next time I see a show here.
Mythic Reinvention: 50 Years of Costume and Craft runs at the Royal Exchange Theatre from 16 September to 15 November 2026.