STARS COME OUT FOR REOPENING OF THE OLD VIC
WHILE all eyes at the revamped Bristol Old Vic are very much on the future, actor Simon Callow took guests back to its first night in 1766 at the official re-opening yesterday morning.
The celebrated actor read the prologue of Garrick’s inaugural 1766 address as the King Street theatre threw open its doors at 8am.
Callow, who played the title character Titus Andronicus at the Old Vic in 1979 in one of his first headline roles, was joined by former Bristol city poet Miles Chambers, who read the poem he wrote to mark the theatre’s 250th anniversary in 2016.
The radical renovation aims to place the exquisite Georgian theatre at the heart of Bristol’s public and cultural life.
Stirling prize-winning architects Haworth Tompkins have led the redesign, which includes a fullheight timber and glass-fronted foyer that reveals the original auditorium facade to the street for the first time.
There are also huge sun-shading shutters, incorporating the text of Garrick’s inaugural 1766 address.
The internal layout has been completely transformed, with the restoration of the Georgian Coopers’ Hall, a new studio theatre created in the old barrel vaults and mezzanine galleries.
The project is the second stage of a 10-year £26 million programme to completely overhaul and safeguard the future of the theatre.
Timothy West and Stephanie Cole were among guests at a starstudded party to thank those who helped make it possible took place on Sunday night to declare the new building open.
And yesterday the theatre threw open its doors early and invited the public in to see the transformation for themselves.
Staff were on hand to dish out coffees and talk about the theatre’s dramatic transformation and exciting future.