Theatre / Interviews
Old Vic at 250 – Video: Tom Morris
Tom Morris, artistic director for the Bristol Old Vic, is the visionary behind almost everything at the 250-year-old theatre.
“There’s something about how close the audience feel to the performance in this beautiful theatre,” says Tom, lounging on one of the theatre’s burgundy plush chairs and gazing out over the stage.
If it hadn’t been for Tom, however, this scene could have been very different. When Tom took on the job of artistic director at what he calls “the most beautiful theatre in the world,” the Old Vic was struggling to stay alive.
After a 1970 refurbishment, the theatre space had been altered from its original horseshoe design, pushing the audience far away from the action of the play.
“When I arrived, the first thing was to try to find a way to use the theatre in a way that was slightly closer to the way it was originally designed,” explains Tom.
He arranged to build a stage where the performers were again surrounded completely by the audience. “We started using the theatre for 21st century productions but in a way that utilises its beautiful and brilliant original design. And that seemed to work.”
Since arriving at the Old Vic in 2009, Tom also notably helped re-establish the theatre as a prestigious venue with innovative productions such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which toured internationally, as well as Jane Eyre and Peter Pan.
At the same time, he implemented artist development programmes such as Ferment and outreach programmes in schools in every part of Bristol.
“If the theatre is going to have a future, it needs to engage the whole city,” says Tom. “There is a cultural renaissance already happening and waiting to take off in Bristol. It’s my hope that Marvin, the new mayor, is going to put in a bid for us to be the European Capital of Culture.
“Part of what makes Bristol lovable, powerful and commercially successful is its cultural life. It’s part of the reason why people move here and why businesses want to locate here.”
He adds, proudly: “I think Bristol has the highest concentration of creative people in Britain.”
To celebrate the Old Vic’s 250th birthday weekend (May 28-30), the oldest theatre in the English-speaking world will put on series of Bristol-wide projects when the Theatre, foyers, Studio and the street beyond will be handed over to the people of Bristol for a weekend of entertainment created by Bristolians of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
