The Road to Bristol Old Vic
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250 YEARS OLD Thank you for being part of one of the most significant anniversaries in the history of British theatre. We’ve done our best to curate a programme worthy of your efforts, inspired by the astonishing creativity of the thousands of artists – from Sarah Siddons to Sally Cookson – who have delighted and entertained you and your forebears over the last 250 years. But at heart, ours is a story of passion, survival and reinvention. All the other theatres producing plays in 1766 have fallen down or been demolished because, at some point in their history, their audiences abandoned them. This one has survived because each time it’s faced disaster, Bristolians from all over the world have given it new life. It happened in 1800, when popular demand led to the ceiling being tipped up and the new gallery being built, increasing the capacity to an eye-watering 1,600. It happened in 1933 when Blanche Rogers initiated the campaign that the old place should be saved and become ‘Bristol’s Old Vic’. It happened in 2007 when Dick Penny held the open meeting (which many of you attended), leading to the Arts Council continuing its vital support for the theatre. And it’s happening throughout this wonderful anniversary, as you carry us towards the final stage of the refurbishment that will set us securely on our adventures over the next 250 years. So as you read about the shows we’re staging and the projects we’re curating during our birthday year, don’t forget to give yourself a warm pat on the back for being the people who are, in the end, responsible for all of it. With enormous thanks Tom Morris and Emma Stenning And all the artists and staff of Bristol Old Vic bov_250_gala_programme_AW.indd 1 18/05/2016 14:48 BRISTOL OLD VIC 250TH ANNIVERSARY GALA SUNDAY 29 MAY, 2016 A SELECTION OF THIS EVENING’S HIGHLIGHTS, WITH EVEN MORE SURPRISES IN STORE 6pm — Pre-show reception with canapés and welcome drink ——— 7pm — Star-studded Gala Performance: ‘At the Top of the Tide’ ‘Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds’ A fanfare for three trumpets From Juliet and Her Romeo by David Mitcham by Tom Morris and Sean O’Connor David Garrick’s prologue Extract from ‘A Small Town in the West Country’ The very first words Sound by John Leonard to be uttered on this stage Extract from ‘King Lear’ ‘Since by Man came Death’ By William Shakespeare (Act III, Sc 2) From ‘The Messiah’ by George Frideric Handel ‘Sweet Powell’ Colloquy of voices on the beauty of Bristol Old Vic An anthem for Bristol Old Vic Theatre by Adrian Sutton, directed by Tom Williams Extract from ‘Isabella, or the Fatal Marriage’ by Thomas Southerne, 1694 Extract from ‘My Father is a Polar Bear’ Adapted by David Garrick in 1757, By Michael Morpurgo immortalised by Sarah Siddons Extract from Peter O’Toole’s Memoirs, Volume II Bristol Old Vic Ghost Stories By kind permission of Kate O’Toole ‘Crazy’ by Gnarls Barkley Extract from ‘The Meaning of Zong’ Adapted and recomposed for the stage A play in development by Giles Terera by Benji Bower from his acclaimed score for Jane Eyre The finale from ‘Swallows and Amazons’ Words and music by Neil Hannon, Extract from arranged by Sam Kenyon ‘The Consequences of a New Theatre to the City of Bristol’ Anon, 18th Century Herbert Farjeon’s prologue to ‘She Stoops to Conquer’ Spoken by Dame Sybil Thorndike, Sword and Shield Fight in character as Mrs Hardcastle Choreographed by Jonathan Howell, at the reopening of the Theatre Royal, Fight Director, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Bristol on 11 May 1943 ——— 11pm — The unveiling of the evening’s spectacular finale on King Street bov_250_gala_programme_AW.indd 2 18/05/2016 14:48 Introduced by Tom Morris Directed by John Caird Produced by Emily Blacksell Curated by Tom Morris, Emily Blacksell & John Caird THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY GALA COMPANY Jude Akuwudike Pippa Haywood Michael Morpurgo Alison Balsom Jack Holden Dame Siân Phillips Samantha Bond Toby Jones Tim Pigott-Smith Ross Brown Phil King Caroline Quentin Sam Clark Kwame Kwei-Armah Sir Tony Robinson Stephanie Cole Tommy Luther Greta Scacchi Erin Doherty Patrick Malahide Timothy West David Emmings Melanie Marshall Adam Wright CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION TEAM Rod Maclachlan Video Director Brian Hargreaves Young Company Director Victoria Brennan Lighting Designer Sian Eustace Young Company Producer John Leonard Sound Operator Ali Wade Company Stage Manager Ian Penrose Sound Designer Diana Favell Show Caller Emma Cains Costume Samantha Mallinson Assistant Stage Manager Rachel Lisa Jones Hair, Make Up & Wigs Suzanne Snook Assistant Stage Manager THE EREBUS BRISTOL OLD VIC SWALLOWS ENSEMBLE THEATRE SCHOOL COMPANY Amy Blythe, Rory Carver, Corey Montague-Sholay Celia Adams, Alice Barclay, Millie Corser, Rose Martin, Lissie Paul, & Maanuv Thiara Dominic Gerrard, Pieter Lawman, Dave Price, Josephine Stephenson, and a rabble Tarek Merchant (Musical Director), Daisy Walford, Tom Williams Katie Moore, Bethan Nash, Zara Ramm, Stewart Wright BRISTOL OLD VIC YOUNG COMPANY Marco Adduocchio, Rich Ainsley, Bethan Barke, Holly Barker, Ewan Bullough, Gemma Carey, Nancy Clarke, Charlie Conway, Poppy Costello-Roberts, James D Kent, Gemma Davies, Jess Dix, Ellie Drake, Lola English, Thomas France Liva, Sadie Gray, Ted Gray, Julia Head, Hannah Hecheverria, Dan Hodges, Luke Holloway, William Hulse, Toby Ineson, Rebekah Jeffery Hughes, Sam Lavercombe, Rose McPhee, Jack Orozco Morrison, Hope Parish, Ruby Prior, Sophia Raee, Jacob Rayner Blair, Grace Rich, Ruby Sanger, Robbie Seward, Amy Smith, Louis Spaulding, Lila Stewart, India Tugwell, Orla Watkins, Callum Wood, Naomi Wood, Jess Wray, Toby Yapp and Megan Yapp. Music by Brian Hargreaves and the Company. bov_250_gala_programme_AW.indd 3 18/05/2016 14:48 WITH GRATEFUL THANKS TO John Nicholson, David Mitcham, Owen Sheers, Giles Terera, Graham Bennett, Sophie Green, Ben Hamilton, John Leonard, Michael and Claire Morpurgo. Russell Hancock and Jenny Johnson at Extra Strong. Tracy Klyne, Head of Costume, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Judy Barratt for writing and editing. for the loan of the replica Sarah Siddons yellow dress. The dress was recreated by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School costume students Rachel Walker and Ellie Smith who researched, cut and made it. Jo Elsworth, Heather Romaine, Jill Sullivan, Laura Gardner and all the team at the Theatre Collection for their help and expertise. Mickleburgh Musical Instruments Limited Bristol Costume Service Gwenfair Hawkins and Rachel Millett for superb administrative support. Thanks to the Mercure Bristol Brigstow LIMBIC CINEMA For Bristol Old Vic’s 250th birthday, Limbic Cinema created a projection-mapped film to be exhibited on the outside of the theatre’s foyer on King Street. Set to music, and using a variety of 2D and 3D animation techniques, it explores the relationship between the theatre and the city. The visual journey shows the different buildings that have stood in that spot for more than 250 years, as well as a nod to the people and stories behind it, and the beautiful artwork that has adorned its posters, plans, playbills and set pieces LIMBIC CINEMA over the centuries. Premier Screening: 9pm Monday 30 May Then every 15 minutes until 10pm Limbic Cinema is a collective of artists who work at the intersection of technology, art and design. Based in Bristol, the artists work with moving image and projection to bring environments to life, from small spaces and intricate sculpture to large-scale architectural mapping with narrative-driven stories. bov_250_gala_programme_AW.indd 4 18/05/2016 14:48 THANK YOU TO OUR VALUED SUPPORTERS We have reached the incredible milestone of our 250th birthday with the generous support of many, many individuals, trusts, grant-makers and companies. Insightful individuals and organisations have helped us refurbish our beautiful auditorium, provided the means to continue this work with a huge redevelopment programme for our front-of-house areas and stunning 18th-century Coopers Hall, and given valuable support towards our activities in the building, including our home-grown productions, Ferment and Outreach. Without your support it all simply would not have been possible. Capital supporters: Simon Inch John James Bristol Foundation Programme Support 250th Anniversary Gold John James Bristol The Linbury Trust Principal Donors Ticket Subscribers Foundation The Foyle Foundation Michael Bakwin Dr Rosalind Kennedy The Wolfson Foundation Ken & Karen Edis Guy Lancaster & Kate Mailer, J. Paul Getty Jnr. Charitable Nisbet Family Charitable Trust New York Trust Lady Susie Sainsbury John & Johanna Laycock The Kirby Laing Foundation Ann Ziff Lady Sylvia Macara Atkin Foundation Annette & Nick Mason 250th Anniversary William & Felicity Mather Twenty Twenty Silver Ticket Subscribers The Society of Merchant Club Members Major Supporters HM The Queen Venturers Jones Lang LaSalle 29th May 1961 Steve Allpress Alan Moore Osborne Clarke Charitable Trust Richard & Mara Aylmer Michael & Clare Morpurgo Adrian Palmer (Guildhall Martin & Mary Bailey Nisbet Family Charitable Trust 250th Anniversary Chambers) Michael Bakwin, New York Constantine Orbelian, Donors Andrew Fletcher Basil Brown Charitable Trust San Francisco Andrew & Christina DAC Beachcroft LLP The Bellevue Trust John & Mary Prior Brownsword D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust Sarah Billinghurst & Howard Peter Rilett & Sonia Mills BT Plc Dunard Fund Solomon, New York Lady Susie Sainsbury Janie Cadbury Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Chris & Jackie Booy Christopher & Sarah Sharp Simon & Liesel Cooper Jerwood Charitable Bristol University Trevor & Mary Smallwood Harry & Laura Marshall Foundation John & Maoko Caird David Sproxton & Peter Lord Susan Smith-Uncles John Ellerman Foundation Mark & Hilary Davison Vanessa Stevenson Saul Rosenberg Leverhulme Trust Sir Daniel Day Lewis & Guy & Gill Stobart Barbara Rosenthal Paul Hamlyn Foundation Rebecca Miller, New York Leila Straus, New York Richard & Caroline York Quercus Trust Ken & Karen Edis Ann Ziff, New York Ronald Duncan Literary Sue Elliott Anonymous And all who have donated Foundation Dame Elizabeth Forgan to The Merchants’ Studio & Denis Burn Trusts and Foundations: Appeal and The Macara Andrew Garrad & Major Support Gallery Appeal.