Go West to Bristol Old Vic

Published Friday 24 August 2007 at 16:25

Timothy West is right when he urges the distinguished performers who publicly voiced their concern about the future of the Bristol Old Vic to actually go and perform there (Letters, August 16, page 8). The problem is that so many actors of repute will not budge from London for fear of losing lucrative offers on television - and voice-overs - while audiences will not budge from their homes and television sets unless, of course, some of their favourite television stars should appear on stage.

When the Bristol Old Vic opened in February,1946, there was jubilation in the city at this exciting new enterprise. I know because I was there - Bristol is my hometown. People flocked to the beautiful Georgian green and gold auditorium of the Theatre Royal to see the wonderful plays on offer. After opening with The Beaux Stratagem, there would be two Shakespeare plays each season, and new plays would alternate with the standard classics. Always there would be a new Priestley play for which the old curmudgeon would pay a visit and be rude to everyone.

The company was led by distinguished actors and actresses of the day, many of whom would stay for several plays if not a whole season. These included Wendy Hiller, Pamela Brown, Cyril Cusack, Kenneth Connor, Catherine Lacey, Robert Eddison and Jane Wenham to name a few. In the pit, wonder of wonders, a small orchestra played before the plays and during the interval.

I was privileged, starting at the age of 17, to spend the first two years of my working life with this wonderful company. In that time I never saw empty seats, but time and custom have changed things. However, whenever a group of seasoned actors get together and reminisce about their early days in rep, they wax lyrical and nostalgic. With television providing less drama, and musicals dominating the West End, now is the time to return to their roots.

John Dalby

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