The Old Vic Theatre, is as famous as “the actors theatre” as many of the greatest actors like Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Sybil Thorndyke, Edith Evans, Peggy Ashcroft, Alec Guiness, Vivien Leigh, Ralph Richardson, Michael Redgrave, Peter O’Toole, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Kevin Spacey have played on its stage.
The Old VIC Theatre, founded by actor William Barrymore, opened in 1818. At that time, it was known as The Royal Coburg Theatre. The Old Vic Theatre is situated in the Waterloo area in a prominent position on the corner of Waterloo Road and The Cut, just southeast of Waterloo Station. Later, the theatre's name was changed to the Royal Victorian Theatre after the heir to the throne Princess Victoria in 1833. Again, in 1880, under ownership of Emma Cons, the theatre became ‘The Royal Victoria Hall and Coffee Tavern’.
Due to the strict temperance, it was known as the Old Vic Theatre from that time. Throughout the long pathway, The Old Vic Theatre has faced various changes in ownership, names and also in locations.
After the death of Emma Cons, her niece Lilian Baylis took charge of the theatre in 1912 and in this era, Vic staged Shakespearean repertoire. Lilian Baylis also formed a ballet company under guidance of Ninette de Valois after restoration of Sadler’s Wells Theatre in between 1925 to 1931.
In 1929, The Old Vic Company was formed under the direction of John Gielgud and both drama and ballet ran simultaneously for the next few years. The ballet took permanent place in Sadler’s Wells in 1935. The Old Vic Theatre was very badly damaged during the blitz. The war-depleted company spent all its time touring based in Burnley, Lancashire at the Victoria between 1940 and 1943. From 1944, the company restarted performing with stars like Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier other stages mainly at New Theatre in London and from 1950 The Old Vic reopened.
In 1946, an offshoot of the company was established in Bristol as the Bristol Old Vic. This was dissolved in 1963 and the new National Theatre Company was formed under the artistic direction of Laurence Olivier. It was based at the Old Vic until its own building was opened on the South Bank near Waterloo Bridge in 1976.
After the departure of the NT, the Old Vic continued as a home for classic and new drama. During the 1980s, it was significantly restored under the ownership of Toronto department-store entrepreneur ''Honest Ed'' Mirvish. In 1998, the building was bought by a new charitable trust named The Old Vic Theatre Trust 2000. In the year 2000, the production company Criterion Productions was renamed Old Vic Productions plc. Only a few of its productions are at the Old Vic theatre.
In 2004, the actor Kevin Spacey was appointed as new artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre Company. After this, it started receiving considerable media attention. Nearest Tube : Waterloo Tube Distance : 5 minutes walk Train Station : Waterloo Car Park : Library Street NCP Map : Click Here
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