Bristol Old Vic Announces Autumn Season, New Associate Artists, and Booking Fees Scrapped

A year away from revealing the new foyer and studio, Bristol Old Vic celebrates with a bold new version of twentieth century classic, a Kneehigh premiere, and a dazzling menu of quality work by our Associate Artists. And what's more, they're scrapping booking fees!

September marks the 12-month countdown to the completion of Bristol Old Vic's redeveloped front of house and Studio Theatre. While builders focus on creating a welcoming space for the whole of Bristol to enjoy in 2018, the theatre is also preparing a warm onstage welcome. This autumn sees a flagship revival of a Pinter Classic, four Christmas productions to blow the socks off your festive season and a fanfare welcome to some of the Associate Artists whose work you will be able to see at Bristol Old Vic over the next five years.

Flagship production of The Caretaker

The autumn season is kicked off to a flying start with the award-wining director Christopher Haydon's The Caretaker, his first major production since his celebrated tenure as Artistic Director of London's Gate Theatre. This blistering new interpretation will star great RSC actor Patrice Naiambana as 'Davies', currently wowing audiences and critics alike at the National Theatre in Barber Shop Chronicles.

Christmas for everyone

Adding to the welcome, Bristol Old Vic has made sure there is a Christmas treat for everyone...and we mean everyone. You're never too young with Bristol Old Vic's first babe-in-arms show Ice Ice Baby, giving the smallest babes and toddlers a gentle introduction to the sights and sounds of theatre magic at The Lantern at Colston Hall. For 3 to 7 year olds, the legendary Kid Carpet will be creating Christmas chaos (again at The Lantern) with Snow Globe. For adults and brave children alike, the exquisite The Little Matchgirl and other Happier Tales comes to Bristol Old Vic Theatre following its smash-hit premiere at Shakespeare's Globe. Full of music, magic, puppetry and laughter, this truly remarkable theatrical experience is directed by the visionary Emma Rice (countless Kneehigh hits and Artistic Director of the best-ever-selling season at Shakespeare's Globe). And for those who may need a Christmas antidote, Blah Humbug returns with punk poet, Thick Richard.

Associate Artists showcase their work in Bristol

Autumn also allows Bristol Old Vic to showcase the talents of its Associate Artists: Headlong, who recently collaborated with Bristol Old Vic to create the Bristol musical Junkyard, return with People, Places & Things, their smash hit from the National Theatre, the West End, and now Broadway.

Out of Joint, the brainchild of the legendary director Max Stafford-Clark, returns with the classic 80s comedy Rita, Sue and Bob Too. Max directed the original production of Andrea Dunbar's semi-autobiographical play, and revisits this coming of age story for a major UK tour.

Kneehigh - where the visionary Mike Shepherd (Dead Dog in a Suitcase) continues to create jaw-dropping theatre - bring their new show Tin Drum to Bristol Old Vic in November. Part opera, part psychedelic white-out, part epic poem, Tin Drum is a story of love, war and fizz-powder for our troubled times.

Inspiring Visitors and Studio Walkabout continues

Other highlights through the autumn include the return of English Touring Theatre with Conor McPherson's Olivier Award-winning The Weir. This chilling modern classic embarks on its first ever UK tour this autumn to mark its 20th Anniversary. Former Made in Bristol company, The Wardrobe Ensemble, return to Bristol Old Vic with their love letter to the schools of the 90s, Education, Education, Education. Using their trademark inventive theatricality and irreverent humour, they ask the big questions about a country in special measures, exploring the stories that have shaped our recent history.

The Studio Walkabout season continues with an array of events taking place across Bristol, enriching our Studio-scale work for the opening of the new studio in 2018. St Brendan's Sixth Form College Theatre hosts T***k You, the latest work from Bristol Old Vic's award-winning Young Company which looks at the relationship between youth and power. BlahBlahBlah continues its sell-out monthly spoken word events at The Wardrobe Theatre with headliners including Adam Kammerling, Laurie Bolger and Selena Godden. And back by popular demand, Bristol Old Vic and SS Great Britain's fright-fest The Spooky Ship takes place for Halloween on board the historic ship, bringing its history to life in ghoulish Bristol fashion.

In response to audience request, they've scrapped booking fees

As a final autumn gift, Bristol Old Vic today announced that the theatre will be scrapping its booking fees from 17 July, to simplify the process of buying tickets.

Chief Executive Emma Stenning said: "Our aim is always to provide a wide range of ticket prices for each of our productions, particularly a significant number at our lowest prices. By scrapping the booking fees, we hope our audiences will find the process of buying tickets clearer and more transparent at the point of purchase. From this week, the price you see is the price you pay".

Bristol Old Vic's season of work from September- January 2018 will go on sale to priority bookers from 18 July and on general sale from 20 July.

 

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