Heritage Open Day - The key to the future is the past ↓ Leave a comment
To survive theatre must keep pace with life in the twenty-first century and that suggests that we should update and modernize our Georgian theatre but how far should we go?
Should we be looking at modern décor and take out the Georgian and Victorian influences?
Should we change the stage and bring it further into the auditorium?
Join the debate! What are your thoughts?
Sarah Smith - Project Co-odinator
bob acheson says:
Satisfying all stakeholders will be difficult. Modernisation is obviously important but please do not forget the older generation, many of whom have contributed to the appeal. Comfy seats, a bit of style and a programme which has something for all tastes would be appreciated!
June 16th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
J.Löffler (Andrzej Blonski Architects) says:
The Old Vic is a very old building, currently asleep, but by no means dead.
For any building, to be alive means to be inhabited and to be employed for human activity. In order to stay alive it has to adapt. A living theater is a space where performers develop their ideas and where they can meet their audiences. Over time spatial and technical requirements for both groups change and the spaces and infrastructures have to be updated. These changes happen again and again throughout the lifetime of a theater.
The historic substance of the building is its main asset. No modern theater can offer spaces of a similar atmospheric quality. The challenge for the architect is to preserve these qualities and give meaning to them that goes beyond documentation of the past, to allow it to become the place of today’s and tomorrows performances, to keep it alive.
June 19th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
J.Löffler (Andrzej Blonski Architects) says:
Here are some illustrations relating to my previous comment:
http://image-temp.lima-city.de/unzip_images-web/images-web/
June 19th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Peter Ellis says:
Put the forestage back it will enhance the relationship between actor and audience.
Re think the seating,put the cheaper seats back in the stalls(The Pit)this will i think create a buz and attract a younger and more diverse audience.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Christopher Keegan says:
Here’s an idea for a theatre that keeps up with the 21st century, pull down the whole building ( live entertainment is dead now that we have X Factor beamed into our homes 24hrs a day ) and make car park. In the corner should be a flatbed trailer where actors, scriptwriters, poets etc can perform if they want to but when the management get around to screwing that up there wont be any need to disrespect, betray and finally abandon 80 of their hard working staff.
Only joking, I’m not a bitter man but over the last 12 months I have realised that there is simply no need for the Bristol Old Vic as it used to exist in the 21st century but the cities Care and Community issues are growing as they are country wide.
The Old Vic should be re-built some where else in the city as an up to date theatre with all the trimmings, with no expense spared, whilst also continuing its excellent youth theatre work as well as “breathing new life” into the artistic community of Bristol.
The existing building should then be used to house the myriad of care agencies, particularly those involving mental health, dual diagnosis, disability and long term drug use and dependency. Having these agencies housed under one roof would improve communication as well as quality and speed of service to the client.
Just a thought, but perhaps Bristol needs to prioritise a little and luxury flats as well as live entertainment should take a back seat for a short while while the care needs of this great cities communities are properly addressed.
Best wishes to all still at the Old Vic and lets hope that you as well as the city get the theatre we all deserve.
September 11th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Ann Lewis says:
I hope Christopher is not serious.
The theatre is a great outlet in times such as these. We have doom and gloom on the stock markets but time spent enjoying the performing arts address the balance. After a hard day at work there is nothing better than seeing a show or even taking part. In difficult times we need something to lift our spirits.
Loosing the theatre to a care home might solve the short term but not the long term issues.
A lot of the care organisations use the performing arts to help their patients get better. Alzheima’s disease can be helped by singing. We have theatre groups for the disabled and this helps the able bodied understand the problems.
I think in this century the theatre has to be open to everyone. King street is a brilliant forum for streat theatre which could be used to bring people inside the building for sorts of events.
Bristol Old vic is a symbol and has a lot of wonderful memories for many people. I miss the never too young sessions and panto. My oldest daughter missing the theatre my youngest has never been to the old Vic but she will be one of the first in the future.
September 16th, 2008 at 10:42 am