The Old Vic

History

The theater was founded in 1818 by William Barrymore as the Royal Coburg Theatre, in 1833 it was given the name Royal Victorian Theatre, 1880 The Royal Victoria Hall And Coffee Tavern. Even then, it was known by the nickname Old Vic.

From 1912 Lilian Baylis at the Old Vic plays, opera and ballet with his own ensembles at low prices showed. For these ensembles Theatre Sadler 's Wells Opera Company (now English National Opera) and the Sadler's Wells Ballet went to a parade in the Sadler 's Wells in the 1930s (today's Royal Ballet) out.

The ensemble cast, since 1929 under the name Old Vic Company, remained at the Old Vic and became known for high class Shakespeare performances under the direction of John Gielgud.

During the Second World War, the theater building was destroyed, but already in 1944 the operation was resumed. During this time, belonged to the ensemble, inter alia, John Gielgud, Alec Guinness, Laurence Olivier, Michael Redgrave and Ralph Richardson.

In 1963 the ensemble was renamed the Royal National Theatre, and in 1976 it moved into its own new building next to the Thames. At this time there playing, inter alia, Albert Finney, Anthony Hopkins and Peter O'Toole.

Current usage

The Old Vic Theatre is operated as an independent theater since 1976. Since 2004, Kevin Spacey is responsible for the artistic concerns.