The Bristol Old Vic has revealed that its upcoming year of entertainment will have a theme of the ‘Year of Change’, to mark the opening of new theatre facilities as well as a number of new shows.
Bristol Old Vic has reported that its aim for 2018 is not just to reopen a new front of house and studio theatre, but also to renew its own relationship with the city, through entertainment and culture and a variety of shows.
What to expect from the new season
A new translation of The Cherry Orchard from Rory Mullarkey, originally by Anton Chekhov, will be staged in March. This mournful comedy, described as Chekhov’s final masterpiece, reels from farce to heartbreak as it maps an ‘insecure world on the brink of seismic change’.
The return of the festival Mayfest, curated by Bristol Old Vic Associates MAYK, will bring the ‘change of innovation’ to the city. The event, running through the month of May will take over the city with some top theatre from around the world.
Also in May, the theatre will present the first stage adaptation of Patrick Ness’ transformative insight into love, loss and hope, A Monster Calls. This production forms part of the 200th anniversary of Bristol’s ‘mother’ theatre company, The Old Vic, London.
In September, Bristol Old Vic will open the doors of its new front of house redevelopment with Tom Morris directing the first stage adaptation of Joe Simpson’s memoir Touching the Void, looking at personal change in its ‘most vivid and catastrophic form’.
October will see the run of Shakespearean comedy, Twelfth Night. This production will be co-produced with the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and directed by The Lyceum’s Associate Director Wils Wilson.
And concluding the year will be Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, depicting the archetypal story of a wicked man who looks at his wasted and cruel life and resolves, successfully, to change everything about it.
In addition to the run of new productions, Bristol Old Vic will open a new studio theatre next year, dedicated to new and emerging work. A full studio programme will be announced in spring 2018.
Group bookings can be made by e-mailing groupbookings@bristololdvic.org.uk.
For more information, visit www.bristololdvic.org.uk.
