Until the arrival of film and video recording there was no means of preserving a performance for posterity. Clues to performances in the past include historical artefacts and printed material such as theatre programmes, published reviews, posters, photographs and prints. The Theatre Museum preserves millions of such items in its collections and we are frequently asked about objects that people have discovered hidden in their attic. Use the links below to investigate the history of the music sheet cover and the poster and the beginnings of Rock ‘n’ Roll.