The Stage

Artistic Director leaves as Bristol Old Vic closes early

Published Friday 11 May 2007 at 16:55 by Alistair Smith

Bristol Old Vic is to close down for a £7million refurbishment from this August.

The theatre has cancelled its planned autumn season - including Rough Crossing, which had already gone on sale. The venue will be contacting those who have purchased tickets for the show.

Following the decision to move forward the refurbishment, which is expected to be completed by December 2008, it has been announced that artistic director Simon Reade will leave the company in June.

Reade commented: “I am honoured to have played a leading role in this latest act of Bristol Old Vic’s long history. The continual presence of a producing theatre in Bristol since 1766 has made a significant contribution to the culture of the nation as a whole.

“In pursuing my artistic policy of the past few years I have matched unique collaborations with innovative artists with the long-term experience and specialist skills of the dedicated production staff. I have thus sustained Bristol Old Vic as a powerhouse of production and as a hothouse resource for emerging artists in the region. When the theatre emerges from its refurbishment with a new vision I hope it will continue to produce works commensurate with the theatre’s history, that entice a future audience and that will continue to develop the national theatre culture.”

* For more on this story see next week’s print edition of The Stage