On these pages, you can find out what's happening during our redevelopment. Have a look at the sidebar on the right to join the conversation on our social media, find out the answers to our frequently asked questions, watch videos and see photographs of the project's progress.
To get the most up-to-date news on what's happening, check out our blog here.
What we are working on...
- Raising the stalls and gallery to improve sightlines in the Georgian auditorium
- Converting our Paintshop and Sidestage into new, fully functioning performance spaces, so that we can programme even more work
- Building new rehearsal spaces as our current facilities are in desperate need of renovation
- Installing a lift backstage to make the whole building accessible, and renovating the offices
- Installing improved air-flow, mechanics and insulation, making the building a safer, greener space.
...and most importantly, almost 40 years after it was originally scheduled to happen, we are replacing the seating.
These spaces will reopen in Summer 2012 and the second phase of redevelopment is planned to begin in 2014. During this next phase, we are going to transform the foyers, cafe and studio spaces. The whole project will be completed by 2016; in time for our 250th anniversary. You will be able to see our plans for the redevelopment very shortly on this website and in our foyers.
For further information call the Fundraising team on 0117 907 2689 or email on fundraising@bristololdvic.org.uk
...and where we have come from
Our story begins with 50 merchants, lawyers and politicians joining together in 1766 to fund the construction of a new theatre in the city. For £50 each, a significant sum in those days, these philanthropists received a silver token promising the bearer the "sight of every performance", a promise we still honour today. Designed by the Bristol architect James Saunderson, the theatre was the first in Britain to do away with the traditional rectangular auditorium shape and adopt the ‘horseshoe' shape now seen across the world. Apart from sloping the star-studded ceiling in 1800 to accommodate the new gallery tier, the auditorium has remained largely unchanged for well over 200 years.
In 1946, the newly formed Arts Council formed the first regional subsidised company by sending a group of actors from the London Old Vic to set up home in Bristol, hence our present name, Bristol Old Vic. The name was also given to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (opened by Laurence Olivier at the same time). Although we are now independent entities, the School and Theatre continue a close association with students often rehearsing and performing in our spaces. Information about Bristol Old Vic Theatre School can be found here.
In the 1970s, we underwent a massive redevelopment, incorporating the magnificent Coopers' Hall on King Street as our foyer space and adding a 150 seat studio theatre. Coopers' Hall now forms the oldest part of the collection of buildings that has become known as Bristol Old Vic. The renovations in the 1970s were the last major capital project for the building, and money for the project ran out which meant that many parts of our building have not been renovated since the 1940s. Currently, many parts of our building are in a state of disrepair, the spaces are confusingly laid out, and our facilities are inadequate.
In March 2011, we started work on a £19.26 million redevelopment project - a scheme that has been promised to the city for almost 20 years. By 2016, when the redevelopment is completed, we will be able to produce more theatre in more spaces, have a welcoming and open foyer and café space and an outreach programme that is embedded in our building. Moreover, we will have created a landmark building for Bristol that will welcome audiences from across the country. Throughout 2011 and the first part of 2012, we'll be redeveloping our Georgian auditorium and backstage areas, so they are out of action until Summer 2012. However, the rest of the building is still open and we are producing a full programme of work at Bristol Old Vic and around the city. If you come and see us, you won't see a huge change front of house, but it is a hive of activity in the back half of the building.
