The Stage

Spacey - ACE should fund Old Vic upkeep

Published Tuesday 27 April 2004 at 13:50 by Ruth Gillespie

Kevin Spacey has called on Arts Council England to contribute towards the upkeep of the Old Vic Theatre, claiming the funding body should support any redevelopment work the Grade II listed premises requires.

Speaking during the launch of his first season as artistic director, the Hollywood actor, who joined the newly formed Old Vic Theatre Company last year, added that while the organisation was a commercial enterprise and did not need public money to fund its productions, ACE should provide capital support.

He added: “It is a myth that it rains on the audience but there is work to be done. Now that the theatre has leadership and a future the arts council should help us to keep it going. Right now we’ve got the money we need to start our first season and our focus is on the infrastructure of the building.”

Tim Ronalds Architects, the firm responsible for the development of the Hackney Empire, has been chosen to work on the proposed refurbishment of the auditorium, foyers and facade, as well as carrying out urgent repairs to the roof and creating disabled access.

The South Bank venue has not received any government subsidy since the seventies, when the National Theatre used it as a temporary home before moving to its purpose-built complex. So far £2 million has been raised through investors and sponsorship for the inaugural season, which features British premieres of Cloaca by Dutch writer Maria Goos and National Anthems by Dennis McIntyre, a new version of Aladdin by Billie Brown and a revival of The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry.

Spacey said the programme underlines the importance of new work to the company but added that he was mindful of the historic traditions of the building. He said: “In due course I intend to tackle Shakespeare and some of the great roles that have made this theatre’s reputation such a remarkable one.”

Ian McKellen will play the part of Widow Twankey in Aladdin, while Hugh Bonneville, Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Neil Pearson and Stephen Tompkinson will appear in Cloaca from September 16. Spacey will star in National Anthems and The Philadelphia Story but the actor dispelled speculation over who would join him in the remaining roles, stating that further casting decisions could not be revealed until after a director had been appointed.