meet dick penny ↓ Leave a comment
Dick Penny background
Moved to Bristol in 1974 and has mainly lived in Bristol since then with brief periods living in the Wye Valley and London.
Before working in the arts he worked as a builder, a computer programmer, a production controller in furniture manufacture and commercial vehicle building, and general manager of an industrial textile company.
He has worked as manager, consultant and producer in the arts and creative industries since 1980. First role in the arts was as administrator with the Little Theatre Co from 1980-1983. This company was set up by a group of BOV actors and technicians to keep the Little alive as a professional venue. During this time he also learned how to build sets, operate lights and build relationships with audiences. The final show was Raymond Briggs’ adaptation of his own book Protect and Survive which transfered to the Whitehall Theatre.
Other arts work in Bristol includes:
1986 to 1988 Associate Director for BOV working with Paul Unwin to develop programme and audience.
1991 to 1993 Director of Watershed Media Centre
1998 and continuing Managing Director of Watershed Media Centre which was recently described by the DCMS Creative Economy Programme as ‘a prime example of a highly connected, flexible, porous piece of cultural and creative infrastructure, of which there are too few examples. Watershed is more than just an arts cinema. It is at once a cultural centre, a business broker, a social networker, a research and innovation facility, a café/bar, and a cultural tourist attraction. Watershed brings world cinema to Bristol, projects Bristol’s digital creativity to the world, and promotes innovation at the intersection of creative industries and technology through the recently launched iShed Community Interest Company
He has served on the boards of the Ashton Court Festival and Circomedia.
He was an active member of Campaign for the Arts in Bristol and Avon.
Arts Management and Consultancy projects include work for: Artspace (now Spike Island); Arts Council England; British Federation of Film Societies; British Film Institute; Cinema 100; Cornerhouse; Cumbernauld Theatre; Dundee Rep; First Light; Folly; Jazz Central; Jubilee Arts; Liverpool Everyman; Picture This; Royal Shakespeare Company; Scottish Film Council; TSW Film & TV Archive; Theatre Workshop; West Yorkshire Playhouse; and several projects as associate with Peter Boyden including The Boyden Report on Regional Theatre.
As an independent theatre producer projects include: Frank McGuinness’ Baglady with Sorcha Cusack, Edinburgh Fringe First and UK tour; Macbeth with Pete Postlethwaite BOV and UK tour; Scaramouche Jones again with Pete Postlethwaite Dublin Festival, BOV, UK tour, Riverside, Australia, New Zealand, Toronto and Ludlow.
Still has a Ducati which he loves but it has not left the garage for years.
Many years ago designed a house for a friend in the Brecon Beacons National Park and would love to build one himself from scratch one day. Can’t sing a note and wishes he could.
Main project: help make Bristol a more exciting, open and inter-connected place to live, work and play.
Bryan Ogburn says:
I wish you the best of result from this civic restoration program. From Austin, Texas, USA.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Megan Walden says:
Dear Dick Penny,
What wonderful and weird times we have had at the theatre in the past and hope for more in the future.
I wonder if you have considered the ongoing workings of the Belgrade Theatre in my old home town of Coventry. The city is regarded by a great many as a cultural desert yet this theatre has been brought back from the brink several times. At present it is either functioning or just coming back to life after refurbishment. Stephanie Cole, Timothy West etc. have probably trodden the boards there as many now famous people have. Perhaps if they have not already done so the Bristol Old Vic could contact their colleagues in the midlands and see how they have managed to keep functioning. If Coventry can manage it anyone can!
Best of luck, Megan Walden (Mrs)
January 21st, 2008 at 5:24 pm
rfields says:
Is Bristol really going to be left without a mainstream theatre? Is this the result of the great class divide? We obviously didn’t go often enough but mostly the plays were very good.The audience was always very middle class but I thought Bristol had a large thriving middle class that could support Waitrose and the Old Vic.The Tobacco Factory is no match in quality and is overbearingly trendy,so it is no substitute.The Hippodrome seems to be dominated by sing-along shows and is not in the same league.Bristol is not a poor city so why can’t more money be found for the arts?Do South Gloucestershire contribute?That is quite a wealthy area which is totally devoid of culture but is dependent on Bristol for employment and hence wealth.
January 21st, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Una MacMahon says:
Thank you for all the information re. Old Vic Theatre. I am a member of the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama snd the Bristol Branch support every effort to keep our Theatre alive and well for the future, best wishes, Una
January 24th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Mike Dagger says:
I knew Dick from my involvement @ BOV in the 80’s. He will bring new life to King Street and ‘Restore Success’ gained by his wide experience and unbounded enthusiasm already evident. He needs everybody’s support!
January 31st, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Claire Mason says:
I am an ex-Bristol Old Vic Theatre School student. I couldnt bear the thought of The Royal going under, and that wonderful place which has launched so many careers and changed so many lives, just disappearing. Fight on Bristolians ! I’m shouting as loudly as I can from here in Australia, Fight On !
February 3rd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Charles Pucill says:
When chosing seats - please remember that most men are now 6feet+! Many around the 6.3 feet mark - we do not have narrow bums! If the seats remain at their current dimensions - I will not be in attendance to future performances - old age has me in its grip and 80 this year!
February 6th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Martin Vaughan-Lewis says:
I was devastated to hear of the Vic’s closure, and correspondingly delighted to here of Dick Penny’s appointment. As a man with a long history in the Bristol arts scene, I hope we will at last see the Theatre Royal and New Vic serving the people of Bristol again. Turn again, Dick! And good luck.
February 15th, 2008 at 4:52 pm