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     Old Vic Theatre - Information & History
The Old Vic is situated on the south side of the River Thames on the Cut near Waterloo. The Theatre originally opened as the Royal Coburg Theatre on the 11th of May 1818. The opening performance was a trio of three dazzling productions all in one night performance, including a Harlequinade 'Midnight Revalry', an Asiatic Ballet 'Alzora and Nerine', and a Melodramatic Spectacle 'Trial by Battle or Heaven Defend the Right' by William Barrymore.
The Royal Coburg was built on a former marsh known as Lambeth Marsh and took several years to complete due to technical problems and the additional funding that was needed to overcome the obstacles. The Royal Coburg was courtesy of the Prince and Princess of Saxe Coburg who had formerly run the nearby Surrey Theatre and had applied to the local courts for a performing licence. The foundation stone was laid by the Prince of Saxe Coburg and Princess Charlotte of Wales in September 1816, when the building of the theatre began. Joseph Glossop, a local wealthy Merchant's son, provided the extra funding to complete the project and he took over the management of the Theatre and it finally opened on the 11th of May 1818.
The Saxe Coburg family name was the same family that produced the prince, Albert, who married Queen Victoria several decades later and the Victorian family reign from 1837 to 1901 remained the House of Saxe Coburg until her death, when it became the House of Windsor, which it still is today.
There was a strong connection between England and Germany throughout the 19th century and it was in fact the Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, the Queen Victoria's cousin, who sparked the First World War.
The Royal Coburg Theatre has been through numerous name changes including Royal Victoria Theatre, Victoria Theatre, New Victoria Palace, Royal Victoria Hall & Coffee Tavern. The Theatre is now known as The Old Vic.
The original building was designed by Rudolph Cabanel, and was built at a final cost of £12,000. Much of the building materials and stonework for the Theatre was recycled from the original Savoy Palace in the Strand, which had been demolished when Waterloo Bridge was being constructed nearby.
A Theatre Programme of the day advertised the new Royal Coburg [Extract from The Theatres of London by Mander and Mitchenson, as follows:-
'Royal Coburg Theatre, opposite Waterloo Bridge Road, Lambeth. The Nobility, Gentry and the Public are respectfully informed that the above new and splendid theatre, which has been erected according to the plans and designs and under the superintendence of the celebrated architect Mr. Cabanel, will open on Whit Monday, the 11th May 1818, under the immediate patronage of His Royal Highness of Saxe Coburg, with entirely new entertainments now preparing on a scale of magnitude and great expense. The audience part of the theatre will be lighted by a superb Central Lustre, while others of a most costly description will shed a beautiful and brilliant light over the whole house. The Decorations of the interior and Grand Panoramic Marine Saloon designed and executed by Mr. Serres (Marine Painter to His Majesty). The ceiling and proscenium designed by Mr. Cabanel and executed by Mr. Latilla and Assistants. The burnished gold and silver ornaments by Mr Collet and Assistants. The company already engaged include many performers of High Celebrity from the London and principal Provincial Theatres. The scenery is entirely new and painted by the following celebrated artists: Messrs Serres, Latilla, Morris, Scruton, Stanfield, S. Morris and Assistants.'
The Royal Coburg became an instant success and many of the famed actors of the day willingly performed at this new South of the River Venue including Edmund Kean, who performed at the Royal Coburg in 1831 for a massive nightly fee of £50, the average annual salary of the day.
The Theatre went through its first major redecoration in 1831 and its first change of name to Royal Victoria. It opened on the 1st of July that year with a production of 'Black Ey'd Susan'. The first tragedy occurred in 1858 when a false fire alarm led to a panic and in the crush to escape 16 people were killed. The theatre went through a period of lean times after this as bad luck seemed to linger with theatres and many theatregoers are superstitious, as, in particular, are performers.
The Theatre was finally sold in 1871 and the new owners commissioned a partial reconstruction of the interior. Yet another new name was given in an attempt to re-brand the theatre and to shed its earlier misfortune and bad luck stigma. This time the theatre was called the New Victoria Palace. This should not be confused with the present day Victoria Palace and it's unknown why the new owners called the theatre this, bearing in mind it is no where near Victoria. Unfortunately the theatre's fortunes did not change and the building was once again up for sale and sold in 1880.
The new owner was a social reformer Emma Cons who bought the building in 1880 and spent a further £3,000 on altering the auditorium. It re-opened on the 27th of December of the same year and changed its name once again to the Royal Victoria Hall & Coffee Tavern.
Under the direction of Emma Cons the new venue was run on much stricter temperance lines. Emma Cons (1838-1912) was a social reformer, strong socialist, educationalist and theatre manager. She renamed the theatre the Royal Victoria Coffee and Music Hall. It was a cheap and decent place of amusement and, through her initiative, she brought the plays of William Shakespeare and Opera to working class people who couldn't afford the West End Theatre prices. Emma Cons was the very first woman to speak at the Institute of Directors, IOD, on behalf of the South London Dwellings Company, and she was also the first woman alderman. Her niece, Lillian Bayliss [1874 - 1937], was greatly involved in the Theatres of the day and assisted in running the Old Vic.
In 1900 the very first Opera was performed at the theatre, 'Bohemian Girl', and in 1912 Lillian Bayliss formerly took over the management of the theatre, which became her passion throughout the rest of her life. Lillian Bayliss introduced cinema to the theatre, cultural productions, such as Operas and Symphony Concerts. Despite popular opinion Bayliss decided to put on Shakespearian plays between 1914 and 1923 and staged the first complete folio of Shakespeare's work, which no other theatre had attempted before in the world. Lillian Bayliss' influence on London's theatres was immense and it was during her stay at the Old Vic that the National Theatre concept was born. Lillian died in 1937.
The Old Vic Theatre was largely damaged during the Blitz bombing and it was forced to close for 10 years until 1950, when the National Theatre used it as a temporary home. The National Theatre eventually moved in on a permanent basis in 1963 under the Artistic direction of Sir Lawrence Olivier. The National Theatre finally left the Old Vic and moved to their new permanent home on the South Bank.
The Old Vic Theatre has continued to be reasonably successful since 1976, despite the fact that the Old Vic Theatre is somewhat detached from the main hub of the West End Theatres, being on the south side of the river. In 2004 the Old Vic Theatre was searching for a new leading light to guide it through troubled times and fortunately the new Artistic Director was appointed, namely the famous Actor Kevin Spacey. He and producer David Liddiment have made a fantastic partnership and turned the fortunes of the Old Vic Theatre around. The current theatre has a seating capacity of 1,067.
The Old Vic Theatre has some influential people on its Trust board including - Sir Elton John [Chairman], Lord Attenborough, Dame Judy Dench and Lynn Forrester de Rothschild, to mention a few.
Here are some notable dates and events in the long life of the Old Vic Theatre:
1818
The Theatre starts life as the Royal Coburg under the patronage of the Royal Prince and Princess of Saxe Coburg, promising the nobility and the gentry new entertainment on a scale never witnessed before. Opening night includes a melodrama, an Asiatic ballet and a harlequinade.
1831
The great tragedian Actor Edmund Kean plays Richard III, Othello, Macbeth and King Lear during a six-night engagement, receiving a staggering £50 a night attendance fee, which was a huge sum on the day. He tells a rowdy audience: 'In my life I have never acted to such a set of ignorant, unmitigated brutes as I have before me'.
1850's
Charles Kingsley describes the theatre as 'a licensed pit of darkness, a trap of temptation, profligacy and ruin'. Dickens writes: 'Whatever changes of fashion the drama knows elsewhere, it is always fashionable in the New Cut.'
1871
Theatre re-opens as The New Victoria. During this decade the theatre is twice put up for sale by auction, before closing down once more in 1880.
1880
Emma Cons, a leading Victorian social reformer, purchases the theatre and spends £3,000 on altering the auditorium. Emma Cons re-opens it as The Royal Victoria Coffee and Music Hall, 'a cheap and decent place of amusement on strict temperance lines'. The word 'theatre' is dropped because of its 'impure associations'. Her mission was to bring culture to the poorer people of London who couldn't afford West End Theatre prices.
1912
Emma Cons dies. Lillian Baylis her niece takes over as manager and lessee, and obtains a theatre licence from the Lord Chamberlain. The first Opera programmes begin.
1914
Shakespearian productions staged for the first time, under director Ben Greet.
1914-18
Sybil Thorndike leads company during war years. Productions continue during Zeppelin and bombing raids. Baylis: 'What's a raid when my curtain's up!'
1920-25
Under director Robert Atkins all 36 Shakespeare plays in the First Folio are performed.
1929-31
John Gielgud's Hamlet and Richard II establish him as an exciting new Shakespearean star.
1931
Sadler's Wells opens as Baylis' second theatre. The Old Vic Sadler's Wells Ballet Company is formed, led by Ninette de Valois. The two theatres alternate drama, opera and ballet for four years, until opera and ballet move to Sadler's Wells.
1937
Lillian Baylis dies as Macbeth is about to open.
1940
John Gielgud leads a season that includes King Lear, directed by Harley Granville-Barker, and The Tempest, directed by George Devine. Because of air-raids, the headquarters are moved to Burnley. Several companies tour Shakespeare to mining and other industrial areas, subsidised by the newly formed Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts, the forerunner of the Arts Council.
1941
Theatre badly damaged by bombs.
1944-49
Ralph Richardson, Laurence Olivier and John Burrell lead a new company at the New Theatre (now the Albery), in its temporary home. Successful productions feature Olivier as Richard III and Oedipus, and Richardson as Peer Gynt and Falstaff.
1950
Theatre re-opens after repairs and renovations with a performance of Twelfth Night.
1953-58
Under director Michael Benthall the complete First Folio is staged for a second time, beginning with Richard Burton as Hamlet.
1957
Judi Dench joins for the first of four seasons. Her parts include Ophelia, Hermia, and Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's production of Romeo and Juliet.
1963
The Old Vic Theatre Company disbands. The National opens with Hamlet, starring Peter O'Toole. Over the next 13 years, company regulars include Albert Finney, Anthony Hopkins, Geraldine McEwan, Joan Plowright and Maggie Smith.
1973
Olivier's last stage performance in Trevor Griffiths' ''The Party'. He resigns as director of the National, and is succeeded by Peter Hall, who's productions include John Gabriel Borkman with Richardson, Ashcroft and Wendy Hiller, No Man's Land with Richardson and Gielgud, and Hamlet with Albert Finney.
1976
The National's last performance before moving to the South Bank is 'Tribute to the Lady'. Peggy Ashcroft plays Baylis, Gielgud and Richardson are among those taking part, and Redgrave and Thorndike are in the audience. In her curtain speech Ashcroft repeats Baylis' threat to come back and haunt The Old Vic Theatre should her and her Aunt Emma Cons' work ever be put at risk.
1978
The Old Vic Theatre becomes the home of Prospect, under the artistic directorship of Toby Robertson. Productions include Hamlet with Derek Jacobi, Anthony and Cleopatra with Alec McCowen and Dorothy Tutin, and Saint Joan with Eileen Atkins.
1982
The theatre is put up for sale. Canadian businessman Ed Mirvish restores it to its former glory. The facade of the building is based on an 1830 engraving, and the auditorium on the designs of 1871. A giant sign is hung on the scaffolding: 'Lillian Baylis, you're going to love this. Honest Ed.'
1998
The Mirvish family puts the theatre on the market. Suggestions for changing it into a themed pub, a bingo hall or a lap-dancing club provoke widespread outrage and protests. In response to public and political pressure, it's acquired by The Old Vic Theatre Trust 2000, a registered charity set up by Sally Greene.
2003
Announcement that The Old Vic will once again become a producing house. Kevin Spacey is appointed first artistic director of The Old Vic Theatre Company.
2004 saw the appointment of Kevin Spacey as the latest Artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre Company receiving considerable media attention. Spacey hopes to inject new life into the British theatre industry, and bring British and American theatrical talent to the stage.
2005
The season continues with the British premiere of National Anthems by Dennis McIntyre, starring Spacey, Mary Stuart Masterson and Steven Weber. It's followed by Philip Barry's The Philadelphia Story with Jennifer Ehle as Tracy Lord. In September, Spacey makes his UK Shakespearean debut in the title role of Richard II, with Ben Miles as Bolingbroke. At Christmas, Ian McKellen repeats his Widow Twankey in the revival of Aladdin.
Time Line Extracts from the Old Vic Official Website http://www.oldvictheatre.com/
The Old Vic is one of the oldest theatres in London and most of the famous actors and actresses have trodden the boards at the Old Vic, including Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Sybil Thorndyke, Edith Evans, Peggy Ashcroft, Alec Guinness, Vivien Leigh, Ralph Richardson, Michael Redgrave, Peter O''Toole, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Kevin Spacey.
The Old Vic Theatre | Performances | Information | Directions | History
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