Final curtain for the Theatre Museum

London's Theatre Museum has closed its doors to the public after 20 years because of a lack of funds for a major refurbishment to the building.

Its owners, the Victoria & Albert Museum, decided to close after failing to raise £5 million for the project. Actors including Dame Judi Dench, Vanessa Redgrave and Peter Bowles had attempted to help save the museum. Martin Brown of Equity, said he was "appalled" the museum is closing.

He said: "London is a world centre of theatre and it's astonishing that the Victoria & Albert Museum hasn't got sufficient commitment to this art form to continue funding."

Educational activities for groups will continue at the museum building until the end of the current school year.

Sir Laurence Olivier's costume from Richard III and Noel Coward's make-up box are among the exhibits. The V&A plans to rehouse the theatrical collection in a new gallery on its main site in South Kensington.