Kate Varah News

The Old Vic is a world-famous iconic theatre with a strong social mission operating at the heart of its local community. For over 200 years this cultural landmark and independent not-for-profit charity, has provided inspiration for people from all walks of life to be entertained, to learn, and to engage with others around them. The Old Vic is both an indispensable part of the nation's cultural landscape and a crucial lifeline for local people who take part in the range of freely available social mobility, employability and community engagement projects each year.

The Old Vic hosted its annual fundraiser last night at The Brewery in East London, to raise vital funds needed to secure the theatre for future generations. A not-for-profit registered charity, The Old Vic can only keep thriving with the help of individual supporters, corporate partners, trusts and foundations, and nights like this one.

After its hit runs at The Public Theater, The Old Vic London, and in the West End, Girl from the North Country will come to Broadway, beginning performances on Friday, February 7 at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street) with the opening night set for Thursday, March 5.  

Ahead of the Olivier Awards 2019 with Mastercard, Special Recognition Awards were today presented to Bendy Ashfield, (Royal Opera House Apprenticeships Manager), Vivien Wallace (The Old Vic's former Executive Director of Development) and Linford Hudson (long-serving London Palladium Follow Spot Operator), celebrating their outstanding contributions to British theatre. Family members of fellow recipient Bob Thomas, a renowned theatre accountant who died in late 2018, collected his award on his behalf.

As The Old Vic's bicentenary year comes to a close, the celebrations continue with the release of the theatre's first ever short film for cinema. The birthday has been a showcase of all the work that the theatre does, and will continue to do, to entertain and enrich the lives of audiences and communities.

Today, The Old Vic announces the Guardians Network - a collaboration between organisations committed to eliminating abuses of power in the workplace.

This afternoon, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales visited The Old Vic to mark the theatre's bicentenary year. As Royal Patron for its milestone 200th birthday, His Royal Highness continues a long family connection with The Old Vic, the only not for profit, unsubsidised producing theatre with 1,000 seats in the heart of London.

Today, ahead of its 200th birthday, The Old Vic announces a major collaboration with Twitter that will see the first ever global 'marathon broadcast' from a theatre across the social media platform.

According to Deadline, The Old Vic Theatre has launched a scheme to protect employees from harassment and misconduct, following the allegations against Kevin Spacey. Spacey was the artistic director at the Old Vic.

The Old Vic today released its conclusions following an investigation into allegations concerning Kevin Spacey's conduct when he was Artistic Director of The Old Vic between 2004 and 2015. The investigation resulted in 20 personal testimonies shared of alleged inappropriate behaviour carried out by Kevin Spacey during his time as Artistic Director. Despite having the appropriate escalation processes in place, it was claimed that those affected felt unable to raise concerns and that Kevin Spacey operated without sufficient accountability. This is clearly unacceptable and The Old Vic truly apologises for not creating an environment or culture where people felt able to speak freely.

Led by the National Theatre, a group of the UK's top stages have joined together to release the following statement in relation to the recent allegations against former Royal Court artistic director and UK theatre director Max Stafford-Clark, and the ever-burgeoning controversy surrounding Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

Today The Old Vic announces His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales as newly appointed Royal Patron of The Old Vic to mark the theatre's bicentennial year in 2018. His Royal Highness will continue a long family connection with The Old Vic, London's independent, not for profit theatre, and has inspired a new partnership between it and The Prince's Trust.

Over 20 London-based theatres and theatre organisations, including The Old Vic, Shoreditch Town Hall, Battersea Arts Centre, The Yard and many more, have come together to launch STAMP (Supporting Theatre and Makers of Performance), a network dedicated to improving support for artists and advocating for the role of theatre and theatre makers in London.

The Critics' Circle Theatre Awards 2016 were hosted today, Tuesday 31 January 2017, by the Critics' Circle Drama Section Chairman Mark Shenton, at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London. Scroll down for photos of the winners!

Parents in Performing Arts (PIPA), a Consortium of 18 leading Industry organisations, led by The Old Vic, announces the preliminary findings of their Best Practice Research Project.

Today, Parents in Performing Arts (PIPA) announces the formation of a new consortium of leading UK theatres and arts organisations who will work together for the first time to support PIPA's campaign for equal opportunities and access for parents and carers working in the performing arts.

Matthew Warchus, Artistic Director of the Old Vic, has announced that John Richardson is to step down as Producer at the end of the month. He will maintain active connections with the Old Vic in a freelance role, working particularly on developing musicals with Warchus alongside other projects.