#MuseumWeek 2015: A look back on seven days of insights into our historic collections

Dame Eva Turner visiting the Royal Opera House in honour of her 90th birthday, 10 March 1982 © 1982 Royal Opera House/Donald Southern

Last week, cultural institutions around the world came together to offer a unique insight into their historic collections and activities through #MuseumWeek - seven days of dedicated social media coverage through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

As well as thousands of museums and galleries, dozens of theatres (including the ROH) got in on the act, offering glimpses into their archives and life backstage.

Here are a selection of our own tweets from the week, in case you missed the coverage:

A rarely-seen view to kick off #secretsMW - the view from within our orchestra pit #MuseumWeek ^C pic.twitter.com/giNLeXKy5b

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 23, 2015

Some heavy metal for #SecretsMW - a mercury arc rectifier used to power the stage machinery until '97 #MuseumWeek ^C pic.twitter.com/Q4nW8QgwPZ

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 23, 2015

Maria Callas' wig once caught fire during Tosca. Her co-star snuffed it out - she didn't miss a note! #SecretsMW ^C pic.twitter.com/BG7OnrUWZH

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 23, 2015

Macabre #secretsMW: In 1779,on leaving the ROH,singer Martha Ray was shot by a jealous rejected lover. #MuseumWeek ^C pic.twitter.com/4G0lhiSUhP

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 23, 2015

Putting the 'R' in ROH - The Royal Box (with chairs donated by Queen Victoria) and Royal Retiring Room. #secretsMW ^C pic.twitter.com/xaKdrbdjUS

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 23, 2015

One for typography fans - Historic posters for ballet+opera productions (1849,1954,1973) #SouvenirsMW #MuseumWeek ^C pic.twitter.com/JqiM7l9oMC

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 24, 2015

Mind the gap The reason that the stairway leading up to the auditorium and Crush room at the ROH are so wide isn't by accident - the opulently-carpeted set of stairs is apparently that wide because extravagantly-attired elegant ladies of the 19th century needed enough space to accommodate their enormous hoop skirts! This is just one of the #SecretsMW you may learn on one of our ROH tours. Keep an eye out the rest of this week as we explore the history of the ROH for #MuseumWeek on Instagram and Twitter - theatres have historic collections too! #royaloperahouse #royalopera #royalballet #history #architecture #london #coventgarden

A photo posted by Royal Opera House (@royaloperahouse) on Mar 23, 2015 at 5:30am PDT

Riot at the ROH! 1809 saw 3 months of riots protesting ticket price rises to fund a post-fire rebuild #SouvenirsMW ^C pic.twitter.com/HKb4Bo4brK

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 24, 2015

Probably our most iconic #souvenirsMW are our red programmes. They've evolved somewhat over the years! #MuseumWeek ^C pic.twitter.com/Haj8DyFyr5

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 24, 2015

Historic hecklers: The most vocal members of our Georgian audience sat high up in 'Pigeon Holes' #architectureMW ^C pic.twitter.com/QePW4qJauU

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 25, 2015

Look up! Next time you're at the ROH, spare a thought for the lighting team high above your head! #architectureMW ^C pic.twitter.com/XH0jX7XRlU

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 25, 2015

Refreshments,anyone? The Crush Room is named for the orange drinks once served using one of these #ArchitectureMW ^C pic.twitter.com/RrLIuIIuPc

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 25, 2015

Thinking about an off-stage arts career? Advice from ROH apprentices: https://t.co/BFyPFwnWzZ #inspirationMW ^C pic.twitter.com/AIb2DX5BE8

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 26, 2015

'I'm ready for my close-up' Any fully-staged theatre production you see will require artists to wear make-up. Artists performing roles that require a complete transformation (think Von Rothbart in Swan Lake or Wotan in The Ring) may spend up to two hours in the chair before a performance. For less make-up-heavy roles, a quick dab to ensure their face isn't washed out by the bright stage lights may be all that's needed. #royaloperahouse #royalopera #opera #theatre #music #makeup #mua A photo posted by Royal Opera House (@royaloperahouse) on Mar 20, 2015 at 5:38am PDT

Opera for children: 'Smug parenting' or valuable eye-opener? http://t.co/tU0N74lzXt What do you think? #familyMW ^C pic.twitter.com/JZ8pCBBeaN

— The Royal Opera (@TheRoyalOpera) March 27, 2015

The team’s #favMW items from the ROH Collection. First, the ROH as a Mecca Dance Hall during WWII #MuseumWeek ^H pic.twitter.com/Ne5rpxTUyz

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 28, 2015

Another #favMW from the Collection: a tutu from the 1946 Sadler’s Wells Ballet production of The Sleeping Beauty ^H pic.twitter.com/AsaKrL1xOJ

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 28, 2015

This #favMW is from the 1991 prod of Gawain. The Green Knight’s head was remotely operated so it could still 'sing'^H pic.twitter.com/gane85spDH

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 28, 2015

Director of @TheRoyalBallet Kevin O’Hare likes K15, but what’s your #favMW ROH seat? ^H http://t.co/zsm0XFtoTD pic.twitter.com/wWhlYpAuvc

— Royal Opera House (@RoyalOperaHouse) March 28, 2015

Practice, practice, practice. Jacob here recently joined The Royal Ballet School after taking part in one of our Chance to Dance workshops. The programme works with 30 primary schools across Thurrock, Lambeth and Southwark, giving pupils the opportunity to attend Royal Ballet demonstrations and stage rehearsals, as well as take part in practical workshops. Before taking part in Chance to Dance, Jacob had never considered dance training but since joining the school, Jacob has performed with the professional Company in The Sleeping Beauty on the main stage at Covent Garden. If you've taken up dancing - either full-time training or as a hobby - how have you found the experience? #royaloperahouse #royalballet #ballet #dance #inspirationMW #museumweek #theatre #theater #london #coventgarden #royalballetschool

A photo posted by Royal Opera House (@royaloperahouse) on Mar 26, 2015 at 8:58am PDT

Find out more about our Historic Collections via the ROH Collections website, which features highlights and a performance database.