Sally Cookson News

Bristol Old Vic today (Fri 4) launched a fresh initiative to help new audiences try a night out – theatre style!

Direct from London, the acclaimed production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is coming to Glasgow. Step through the wardrobe this winter into the magical kingdom of Narnia for the most mystical of adventures in a faraway land. Join Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they wave goodbye to wartime Britain and say hello to a talking Faun, an unforgettable Lion and the coldest, cruellest White Witch. The nations favourite novel, now on the stage.

Bristol Old Vic today released the new show image for Wonder Boy, written by Ross Willis and directed by Sally Cookson. The image features newcomer Raphel Famotibe who will be starring as Sonny in the production, which runs from 5 - 26 Mar at Bristol Old Vic.

While at times in Scotland in February it feels like it’s “always winter and never Christmas”, theatregoers can currently enjoy the CS Lewis classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh.

Jonathan Church Theatre Productions and Global Creatures are delighted to announce the cast for A MONSTER CALLS.  The production will play Rose Theatre from 24 March to 9 April 2022.  It will then play Bristol Old Vic from 13 to 23 April, followed by the Kennedy Center, Washington from 25 May to 12 June 2022.

Hot on the heels of the smash hit Dr Semmelweis comes the next in Bristol Old Vic's Spring season of new writing. Award-winning writer Ross Willis joins forces with Olivier Award-winning director Sally Cookson for Wonder Boy, exploring one boy's search for his own voice and identity. 

Bristol Old Vic today announces a week-long extension of the world première of Dr Semmelweis, based on an original idea by Mark Rylance, and written by Stephen Brown with Rylance. The production opened on 26 January, and now runs until 19 February 2022. 

Tom Morris directs the previously announced Rylance (Ignaz Semmelweis), who is joined by Jackie Clune (Anna Müller), Sandy Grierson (Jakob Kolletschka), Felix Hayes (Ferdinand von Hebra), Enyi Okoronkwo (Franz Arneth), Clemmie Sveaas (Lisa Elstein), Thalissa Teixeira (Maria Semmelweis), Alan Williams (Johann Klein) and Daniel York Loh (Karl von Rokitanksy) with dancers Roseanna Anderson, Joshua Ben-Tovim, Megan May Cameron, Megumi Eda, Suzy Halstead and Millie Thomas.

In response to COVID cases within the cast, and to ensure cast, creative team and public are kept safe, Bristol Old Vic has delayed the start of previews for Robin Hood and postponed the Press Night for one week.

Bristol Old Vic are seeking a young male to play the lead role in the world premiere production of Ross Willis' Wonder Boy which opens at Bristol Old Vic next spring (5-26 Mar). The lead character has a stammer and director Sally Cookson's ambition is to cast someone who is currently experiencing, or has previously lived with, a speech impediment or has close proximity to members of that community.

Bristol Old Vic today revealed the brand-new image for their latest Christmas Show, Robin Hood: Legend of the Forgotten Forest.

Cast announced for Bristol Old Vic's new Christmas show with The Wardrobe Ensemble Bristol Old Vic today announced the cast for its brand-new Christmas production, teaming up with one of the city's most celebrated companies; multi-award-winning The Wardrobe Ensemble. Robin Hood: The Legend of the Forgotten Forest is a fresh spin on the legendary Christmas favourite and will be the next chapter in Bristol Old Vic's long-running and hugely popular series of blockbuster Christmas family shows.

Final casting was announced today for the smash-hit Leeds Playhouse production of C.S. Lewis' classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe which begins a major tour of the UK and Ireland on November 2, 2021.   TV and theatre star Samantha Womack completes the cast to play Narnia's evil White Witch.

Launching today, the Young Vic and Joshua Andrews' production of Tennessee Williams' timeless masterpiece A Streetcar Named Desire featuring Gillian Anderson as Blanche DuBois, Ben Foster as Stanley and Vanessa Kirby as Stella, the NT's recent production of Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood with Michael Sheen and Nadia Fall's verbatim play Home that explores homelessness in the UK featuring Michaela Coel.

Freckle Productions have announced that Stick Man, based on the book by Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Axel Scheffler, will return to the stage this Autumn and Winter with more dates than you can shake a stick at!

The Pevensie children are:  Ammar Duffus as Peter, Shaka Kalokoh as Edmund, Robyn Sinclair as Susan and Karise Yansen as Lucy.   Aslan is played by Chris Jared, Mr Tumnus by Jez Unwin, Mr Beaver by Sam Buttery and Maugrim by Michael Ahomka-Lindsay. 

Bristol Old Vic today announced a bold season for Autumn–Winter 2021/22. The programme includes new productions from brilliant talent, long-awaited new dates for world premieres and new ways to share those stories live and online.

This July, Bristol Old Vic joins forces with Bristol Old Vic Theatre School for a remarkable collaboration and startling production of three very different versions of Chekov's The Seagull, marking 125 years since its first performance.

Under Haydon's stewardship, the Rose's own work will be the priority, as demonstrated by the five Rose Originals in this upcoming season, but there will always be room on the theatre's stage for the country's leading touring shows as well.  This season's Rose Originals are a blend of new plays tackling significant contemporary issues and well-known titles reinvented for today.

Bristol Old Vic is back with a summer season of live and online work which balances the return of Touching the Void, with shows from Malaika Kegode and a range of creative opportunities for every community in the city.