Museum of comedy hopes to put laughs on London's tourist trail

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/apr/01/museum-of-british-comedy-london

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What links both Ronnies' spectacles, Charlie Chaplin's cane, Tommy Cooper's handmade props and – once it has been sprayed – the stuffed North American grizzly bear from Steptoe and Son's home on Oil Drum Lane?

All the above will be part of a new museum of comedy being planned for a church crypt in central London.

The museum is the brainchild of Martin Witts, director of the Leicester Square Theatre and comedy industry insider for 30 years. He said the museum was "a labour of love" – and a good outlet for the huge amount of stuff he had collected over the years.

"The garage and the loft is full and I got married two years ago," said Witts. "It was a condition of the marriage that I had a clearout."

Witts has amassed more than 6,000 artefacts but says the museum will be more than just a collection of comedy ephemera. Children and adults will be able to play with props that have been recreated specially for the permanent exhibition, including Tommy Cooper's handmade vase-and-bunch-of-flowers magic trick.

A 100-seat performance space and cinema, called the Cooper Room, will show films and one-off shows, with next year's 50th anniversary of Round the Horne marked by a recreation of the first series by various comic actors. Witts also hopes Paul Merton will curate a season of silent films at the museum.

There are also plans for an academy of comedy, featuring masterclasses from leading lights such as Jerry Sadowitz and Logan Murray.

Witts says there will be a bar, shop and plenty of things to look at and laugh at. At Tuesday's launch visitors sat on pews that featured in various religion-themed sitcoms including All Gas and Gaiters, Father Ted and Rev.

Witts said comedy in Britain had always been "the poor cousin of circus, musical theatre and theatre, and yet tonight there's more people watching comedy live than any other genre of entertainment".

The museum will also shine a light on some of the historic stars of British comedy who are less well known now, such as Vesta Tilley – born Matilda Powles – who, as a male impersonator, was a music hall superstar in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, and Little Tich, a 4ft 6in comedian and dancer particularly known for his big-boot dance.

Witts, who will curate the museum, has worked with famous names including Norman Wisdom, Les Dawson, Russ Abbot and "other ones I can't mention because of Operation Yewtree," he joked. He said he wanted it to be a library and online educational and research resource as well as museum.

The museum plans to open in the crypt of St George's church, near the British Museum, at the end of April. Witts would love to hear from anyone who may have artefacts or documents relating to comedy history, especially items relating to lesser known silent movie stars. Donations gratefully considered at donations@museumofcomedy.com.