British Library acquires archive of Theatre Royal Stratford East and Theatre Workshop A selection of notes, programmes and other papers relating to Theatre Union's work in the 1930s (c) British Library Board. LONDON .-The British Library has acquired the archive of the award-winning Theatre Royal Stratford East, which includes the archive of the renowned British theatre company, Theatre Workshop. Donated on behalf of the Theatre by the actor and Theatre Workshop alumnus Murray Melvin, the archive comprises 140 boxes containing a diverse array of material including scripts, performance recordings, letters, photographs, rehearsal notes, press cuttings and props. It sheds light on the work of Theatre Workshops visionary founder and director, Joan Littlewood, both before and during her tenure at the Theatre between 1953 and 1979.