People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Stephanie Cole
Stephanie Cole trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 1958 and her first theatre job was at Bristol Old Vic.
Her hugely successful acting career includes high-profile roles in Tenko and Open All Hours through the 1980s, the classic 90s sitcom Waiting for God, and the role of Aunt Joan in Doc Martin. She was last seen at Bristol Old Vic starring as the Fool in Tom Morris’ acclaimed production of King Lear.
On November 6, she will feature in Desert Island Theatre at the Old Vic where she will attempt to recreate seven key theatrical moments in her career, live on stage, ably assisted by Morris.
is needed now More than ever
These are Stephanie’s top-five Bristol favourites:
Bristol Old Vic
The Bristol Old Vic (then known as the Theatre Royal) and King Street in the 19th century – photo: University of Bristol Theatre Collection
“The Bristol Old Vic means everything to me. That’s where I first went to the theatre with my mum. We used to sit up in the gallery and watch some wonderful performances, some with a very young Peter O’Toole. In those days you still entered it through the passage that was for the ponies when they were doing pantomime. It was almost like a hole in the wall that you went through.”
University of Bristol Theatre Collection
Look-Back-in-Anger-stage-design – photo by Martin Booth
“I often pop in here. It is absolutely stunning. What they have done there is wonderful.”
The Berkeley
The Berkeley on Queen’s Road is now a Wetherspoons pub – photo by Martin Booth
“This used to be a cake and meal place that we all used to go to when I was at the Old Vic Theatre School, whenever we had any money. It always had a three-piece orchestra – three women – on cello, piano and violin if I remember rightly. So whatever time of day you would always be entertained by these three ladies, who were very very good. It had a wonderful old-fashioned feel to it. It was always a bit of a treat.”
The Victoria Rooms
A coronavirus testing facility is currently open in the Victoria Rooms car park – photo by Martin Booth
“The Old Vic School at the time I was there was quite small as far as buildings were concerned, so we would often do fencing and judo in the Victoria Rooms. We would also occasionally put on shows there in our second year, which was very exciting. So that was very much a part of my youth.”
Tom Morris
Bristol Old Vic artistic director Tom Morris’ productions at the theatre include Cyrano, Touching The Void, The Grinning Man and Messiah among many others – photo by Geraint Lewis
“Tom is absolutely the person to be in charge of the Old Vic right now. He thinks outside the box, he is hugely energetic and Bristol is very lucky to have him.”
Main photo: Bristol Old Vic
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