Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Old Vic is a British theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, Bristol. The present company was established in 1946 as an offshoot of the Old Vic in London. It is associated with the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, which became a financially independent organisation in the 1990s. Bristol Old Vic runs a Young Company for those aged 7–25.
Old and new exterior in 2019 | |
| Address | King Street BS1 4ED Bristol United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51.4521°N 2.5942°W |
| Owner | Trustees of the Theatre Royal |
| Designation | Grade I listed building |
| Type | Repertory |
| Capacity | 540 (Theatre Royal) 188 (Weston Studio) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1766 |
| Rebuilt | 1970–72; 2016–18 |
| Website | |
| Bristol Old Vic | |
The Theatre Royal, the oldest continually-operating theatre in the English-speaking world, was built between 1764 and 1766 on King Street in Bristol. The Coopers' Hall, built 1743–44, was incorporated as the theatre's foyer during 1970–72. Together, they are designated a Grade I listed building by Historic England. Daniel Day-Lewis called it "the most beautiful theatre in England."
In 2012, the theatre complex completed the first phase of a £19 million refurbishment, increasing the seating capacity and providing up to ten flexible performance spaces. Besides the main Theatre Royal auditorium, the complex includes the Studio theatre and the Side Stage, Paint Shop and Basement performance areas. Whilst the theatre was closed, the company continued to present work in the Studio and Basement spaces, as well as at other sites around Bristol. The Theatre Royal re-opened in 2012 with Wild Oats.