Step back in time with Kylie on Stage costume exhibition at WA Maritime Museum

KYLIE Minogue’s grandmother taught her to sew and three generations of Minogue’s family have altered her costumes around her mum’s kitchen table.

It is stories like this that people will learn when visiting Kylie on Stage, a touring exhibition by Arts Centre Melbourne and the Australian Music Vault.

Arts Centre Melbourne dance and opera curator Margot Anderson oversaw this backstage pass to 25 years of Minogue’s concert tours.

It features more than 30 costumes and accessories spanning the live performance career of Australia’s pop princess, with designers including Dolce and Gabbana, Jean Paul Gaultier and John Galliano.

“Kylie has been donating costumes to us since 2003 and over the years we’ve seen a particular strength in her tour costumes,” Anderson said.

“It’s an amazing collection and has been beautifully looked after. It’s obvious that she’s treasured her costumes and has been involved in either the making of them sometimes or the actual design.”

Kylie on Stage opened in Melbourne in 2016 and toured regional Victoria before makings its way to WA Maritime Museum from February 16 to June 9.

“She had a vision from the very early tours in the late 1980s and early 1990s to be in these big arena shows with huge audiences,” Anderson said.

“I think it was important that the costumes showed how the vision developed and how these tours increased, bit by bit, from the early days of three costume changes and a recorded backing track to now seven or eight costume changes and sophisticated multimedia incorporated in to the staging.

“And there are some lovely little stories along the way that show her love for costume but also motivation for performance.

“We were keen to get those sort of stories out because they bring you a bit closer to her and how she felt to wear these things on stage.”

Anderson said Minogue’s showgirl costume by John Galliano in particular were phenomenal, as if it had almost been engineered.

“It’s hard to find a favourite, I think I love them all,” she said.

“The aim of an exhibition like this is to help people revisit some lovely moments they might have shared with Kylie at these concerts.”

Perth fans will have the chance to continue their performance love affair with Minogue during her Golden tour at Sir James Mitchell Park, March 9.

THE ESSENTIALS

What: Kylie on Stage

Where: WA Maritime Museum, Fremantle

When: February 16 to June 9

Entry: Museum entry fees apply