A History of the Old Vic

 

In 2009 the Old Vic Theatre is a name synonymous with theatre. With stunning productions and talented casts it has become one of the hotbeds for theatre. However, today’s version is a culmination of hard work, sales, closures, moves, name changes and to cap it all bomb damage in 1841.

The theatre began it’s life as the Royal Coburg. It promised nights of ‘entirely new entertainment… on a scale of magnitude and great expense’ for the nobility and gentry.

Fifteen years later the Theatre was re-named in honour of Queen Victoria as the Royal Victoria. However, it was gaining criticism with Charles Kingsley stating in the 1850’s that it was ‘a licensed pit of darkness, a trap of temptation, profligacy and ruin.’

Between 1871 and 1889 there were three name changes and it was twice put up for auction. In 89 concerts of Opera excerpts were staged and by 1914 they had begun productions of Shakespeare. Performances continued throughout the war with manager Lilian Baylis stating ‘What’s a raid when my curtain’s up!’

By 1931 the theatre was beginning to settle into producing high quality performances. In that year Baylis opened a second theatre, Sadler’s Wells, and the Old Vic Sadler’s Wells Ballet Company was formed. Drama, opera and ballet is alternated between the two theatres until 1935 when opera and ballet were transferred to Sadler’s Wells.

Lilian Baylis died in 1937, just as Macbeth was to open. In the years to follow the war would badly damage the progress of and the theatre itself. Due to air raids and the moving of headquarters, several companies toured Shakespeare to mining and industrial areas in 1940. This was funded by the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts, the forerunner of the Arts Council.

In 1941 the Theatre needed repair due to bomb damage and productions were moved to the New Theatre as a temporary home. Meanwhile the damaged auditorium was used by the newly formed Old Vic school.

The theatre was re-opened in 1950 with a performance of Twelfth Night. Between 1962 and 1972 the Old Vic is leased out to the National Theatre. Albert Finney, Anthony Hopkins, Geraldine McEwan, Joan Plowright and Maggie Smith would become regular performers during this time.

In 1977 it was leased to visiting companies. By 1980 it was put up for sale and bought by Canadian businessman Ed Mirvish who restored it to its former glory. During this time he hung a sign on the scaffolding saying ‘Lilian Baylis, you’re going to love this. Honest Ed.’

Between 1987 – 90 Jonathan Miller directed 17 productions and collected five Olivier Awards.

In 1998 the Old Vic ran into trouble once again when the Mirvish family decided to sell. There were many suggestions of transforming the building into a themed pub, bingo hall or lap dancing club. Due to huge public and political pressure it was acquired by The Old Vic Theatre Trust, a registered charity.

In 1998 Kevin Spacey won the Evening Standard Drama and Olivier awards as best actor.  Five years later he would be announced as the first artistic director on the Old Vic Theatre Company.

Spacey’s appointment was also joined by the news that, as of 2003, the Old Vic would once again be a producing house. The new Company began with Cloaca by Martin Goos which was directed by Spacey. That year also saw a production of Aladdin staring Ian Mckellan (he would return the following year to the same role.)

2005 saw Spacey make his UK Shakespearean debut in Richard II and the following year the Old Vic saw the world premier of Stravinsky’s ‘The Soldier’s Tale.’ It was a full cast of Iraqi and European actors and musicians.

High quality performances have continued at the Vic with productions of ‘The Taming of The Shrew’ and ‘Twelfth Night’ in 2007, ‘Speed-the-Plow’ in 2008 and ‘Complicit’ in 2009.

Finally The Old Vic is where is belongs: at the centre of British Theatre productions.

Currently showing:

The Old Vic, Sonia Friedman Productions & Tulchin/Bartner present

DANCING AT LUGHNASA
BY BRIAN FRIEL

 

Brian Friel’s Olivier award-winning play, a bittersweet reflection of rural Ireland in the Thirties on the brink of industrialisation, returns to London for the first major revival since it’s premiere nearly 20 years ago.

Friel’s passionate portrait of the five Mundy sisters follows their loss of love and opportunity played out against the echoes of the twentieth century, with a dark humour, raw energy and tenderness.

Anna Mackmin directs an outstanding cast, Andrea Corr, Niamh Cusack, Michelle Fairley, Simone Kirby, Finbar Lynch, Susan Lynch, Peter McDonald and Jo Stone-Fewings in this vital, life affirming play, in The Old Vic’s in-the-round CQS Space.

Brian Friel is Ireland’s most prolific and distinguished living playwright, his plays include Aristocrats, Molly Sweeney, Philadelphia Here I Come, Faith Healer, The Home Place and Translations.

Anna Mackmin recently directed Brian Friel’s new version of Hedda Gabler at The Gate Theatre, Dublin and her previous directorial credits include Under The Blue Sky in the West End, Chatroom and Citizenship at the National Theatre and Dying for It at the Almeida.

Click here for more information.

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