My Bristol Favourites Bristol Old Vic special

This weekend, Bristol Old Vic – the oldest continuously working theatre in the English speaking world – celebrates its 250th birthday. On Bank Holiday Monday, the day of the birthday itself, the building will be handed over to local artists and community groups from across Bristol for performances and workshops. A street party outside on King Street will feature entertainment from midday to 9pm, with live music and performances as well some of Bristol’s best street food vendors.

To mark this unique anniversary, here are five favourites all about the theatre from five different members of staff:

Our audience
Chosen by Tom Morris, artistic director

“We are celebrating Bristol Old Vic’s birthday – its history, its future and its 250 year love affair with the city – in proper triumphal fashion. By sheer fluke, it has survived bombs, fires, demolition, and near bankruptcy to become a national and international treasure. The restless, forward-looking creative spirit which has characterised this theatre and our audience since the day it opened on May 30, 1766 – alongside the care and attention, the imagination and wit, and the attendance of Bristol’s theatregoers – are what has kept this theatre alive for 250 years. Bristol – it’s your anniversary we are celebrating; 250 years of loyal, passionate and imaginative theatre-going.”

New talent
Chosen by Sharon Clark, literary producer

“Developing new voices is vital, investment in new ideas and new talent is critical to making British theatre as admired as it is – this is what I think this theatre and this city does best. No matter what area they make work in, whether they are writers or dancers, poets or devisers, we are excited by what an artist might do next, what their next idea might be. Through both Bristol Ferment and the literary department, we go on journeys with artists by providing a space where they can take risks, create new work and talk to their audience.”

Bristol Old Vic Young Company
Chosen by Sian Eustace, Young Company and participation producer

“Bristol Old Vic Young Company is an incredible place of creativity, fun and experimentation. It’s fantastic to see young people of all walks of life, from all parts of the city and of all experiences sharing ideas, discovering theatre and creating work of a professional standard. We’ve had some incredible opportunities to perform at the National Theatre and the Edinburgh Fringe festival but still the most joyous thing is to be in the room during a session and witness the young people trying things out, finding their theatrical feet and laughing together!”

Tim Streader, chief electrician
Chosen by Amanda Adams, press manager 

“Tim Streader was always going to be a bit of a poster boy this year as the theatre celebrates turning 250. Tim has worked at Bristol Old Vic his entire adult life – his mum made him look in the local paper one day as a fresh faced 17-year-old, and a job as an assistant electrician at Bristol Old Vic caught his eye. He’s worked here now for over 40 years, most of those as the chief electrician – he’s respected throughout the industry with words like ‘legend’ getting thrown around every now and then – but he’s also quiet, meticulous and the Prince of Darkness to his friends and colleagues. He’s seen the place through all its highs and lows, he’s part of the bricks and mortar, we all love him and he knows a thing or two about lighting too…”

Firebird Theatre
Chosen by Jane Edwards Reynolds, theatre administrator

“I’m delighted that Firebird Theatre are an Associate Company of Bristol Old Vic. The majority of the actors in the company are disabled people with learning difficulties, and Firebird has been an integral part of Bristol Old Vic’s identity for many years now. The company tell powerful stories and reinterpret existing plays in their own unique way, which in turn reflects their place in the community. Their thoughts and shared experiences make for amazing, emotional theatre – championing diversity and accessibility of theatre for everyone.”

Read more: Bristol Old Vic at 250 – Bristol as a creative city