Theatre Collection Bristol Old Vic
The Bristol Old Vic Company is based in the Theatre Royal in King Street, which is
the oldest continuously working theatre in the country. In 1942, the building was put up
for sale and purchased by the Theatre Royal Bristol Trust. In 1946, the trust invited the
London Old Vic Company to set up a resident
repertory company, which became known as the Bristol Old Vic, which included stars such as
Peter O'Toole, John Neville, Timothy West, Barbara Leigh-Hunt and Dorothy Tutin.
The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School was set up in the same year.
In 1963, when London Old Vic disbanded, Bristol Old Vic achieved complete
independence for the first time, however, its expansion over the years meant
that the premises had to be redeveloped. In 1972, the refurbished and extended
Theatre Royal re-opened with a second studio theatre, the New Vic. Since then the
Bristol Old Vic has maintained its artistic standards, by providing innovative
productions in collaboration with other theatre companies, allowing their work to
be seen both locally and nationally.
The Bristol Old Vic Archive includes the administrative and production records, from
its inception in 1946, and for the Little Theatre between 1963-1980. They include production
photographs, programmes, posters, press cuttings books, prompt books and administrative records.
All pre-1945 Theatre Royal archives are housed at Bristol City Record Office.
For further information about the contents of this collection search the
online catalogue.
Further Reading
The Theatre Royal Bristol: the First Seventy Years by Kathleen Barker
The Theatre Royal Bristol: Decline and Rebirth 1834-1943 by Kathleen Barker
The Theatre Royal Bristol, 1766-1966: Two Centuries of Stage History by Kathleen Barker
The Bristol Theatre Royal: the Continuing Story, 1966-1993 by Shirley Brown
The Bristol Old Vic: the First Ten Years by Audrey Williamson and Charles Landstone (1957)
Not in the Script - anecdotes on stage and off published by Bristol Old Vic (1992)
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School: the First Fifty Years, 1946-1996 by Shirley Brown
Other Useful Sites
Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Record Office
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
For further information about the Theatre Collection please tel. 0117 331 5086 (daytime) or email theatre-collection@bristol.ac.uk.
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