Greater than the sum of its parts

Yesterday we announced Matthew Warchus’ fifth Season of work as Artistic Director at The Old Vic which is the culmination of years of planning, negotiating and creative thinking.

Programming a theatrical season of work that excites, challenges and speaks to a host of different people is a delicate and involved process. Matthew has a clear and important vision for The Old Vic; that theatre should be supported, shared and upheld for as many as possible. In his words, his fifth Season ‘continues our social mission to present productions which entwine empathy, politics and entertainment for as wide an audience as possible’.

There are so many that support the process of sharing a great Season of work that sometimes swinging the spotlight around to those who make up the organisation is an edifying exercise.

If there is a constant undercurrent of activity involved in putting a Season together, the same applies to making the work itself. It takes a small village to help realise each play we produce. Every department in the theatre (Production, Finance, Theatre Management, Education & Community, Development, Box Office, Design, Marketing and Communications), every member of our Board, every audience member who purchases a ticket, and every supporter who funds the gap we need to fill to carry on, will be part of delivering the Season we have ahead of us.

Theatre truly is a collective experience both to make and to watch; and one that it’s even more important to uphold with group experiences on the decline and an addiction to screens that is fast eroding the most basic of human interactions.

Thanks to the work of all those behind the scenes, we are preoccupied on a daily basis with how to provide access to this human experience at a price point which suit a wide range of budgets and ensures that our 1,000 seat theatre is full each day (often twice each day thanks to matinee performances). Our Marketing team have worked hard to puzzle how best to provide optimum value for money to everyone that walks through our door and reward our most loyal returning visitors. The result is OV Extra, our new loyalty scheme which, for the price of one trendy coffee and pastry each month (￡5), users will gain access to free and discounted tickets, discounts on food, drink and merchandise and a monthly surprise that could range from ticket offers or backstage tours to party invites or meet and greets.

We are not just a theatre; we occupy a privileged position of sitting in a highly accessible position geographically and have the (currently somewhat limited amidst building developments for OV Tomorrow) space for locals to pop in for lunch, a coffee and post-work drink. We hope that OV Extra will go a long way in encouraging our most engaged audiences to help inhabit our building for the 18 hours a day that it is open. 

But as well as connecting with our regulars, we’re also reaching out to those who might not have considered a visit to The Old Vic. Bolstered by the overwhelming success of our intergenerational carol concert series back in December, we have developed Matinee Idols as part of our continued commitment to combating the increasing numbers of isolation and loneliness amongst the over 60s. Through the free scheme, individuals and groups are invited to attend matinee performances at a reduced cost and make a day of it with free pre or post show events, teas and coffees and the chance to chat and make new friends.

Everything we conceive and deliver is scrutinised and supported by our voluntary Board of Trustees. This eleven strong group of advisers work tirelessly with us to define our vision, set strategy, and help us thrive. They are an integral part of the community of people who make up the theatre, and it’s incredibly exciting today to be announcing two new appointments to swell the experience and energy of the group - Tina Alexandrou and actress Sheila Atim.

Both bring different understanding and perspectives, but are united in their love of theatre and belief in the social mission of The Old Vic. Tina brings with her a wealth of experience within the third sector, currently undertaking a number of trustee roles including Clore Social Leadership, Pilotlight and the Resolution Foundation and sitting on the Ark Schools Board. As we continue with our commitment to bringing the arts and key skills to thousands of young people each year through numerous workshops, training programmes and free theatre tickets, her keen interest in education will undoubtedly allow this aspect of our work to continue to thrive.

Sheila, who we have been fortunate to call an Ambassador since 2017, returns to our theatre with a different hat on following her Olivier Award-winning performance in Girl from the North Country. As a performer and theatre-maker, Sheila is a unique creative force and friend of The Old Vic, and will give us an invaluable industry perspective. 

These appointments were made following a detailed skills audit of our Board which revealed the benefit that would come if we appointed those with industry, business and education/community expertise. It was an important exercise; in the same way that we are continually trying to refresh and invigorate our audiences, reviewing our Board was an essential exercise for a group who give huge power and support to The Old Vic.  

It would be a lovely thing if everyone reading this had experienced some of The Old Vic’s work at some point in their lives. If you haven’t, make Season 5 your time try us out? It begins in September with a brand new play by Lucy Prebble (find our more here) on the tragic death of the Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko. Perhaps you caught Lucy, Luke Harding (on whose gripping book this is based) and Marina Litvinenko talking together about the play and the importance of its themes on the Today programme last week. At this time of unnerving global crises and rumblings of a new Cold War, A Very Expensive Poison sends us careering through the shadowy world of international espionage from Moscow to Mayfair. Matthew calls it a ‘dark fantasia’ and predicts a startling cocktail of theatricality and politics. 

And finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t offer a plug for our various membership schemes that are the lifeblood of our theatre, helping us to raise the additional ￡3.9million each year. Sign up now to be the first to buy tickets for our new Season, get priority booking, support The Old Vic, and access a whole host of perks at the same time. Raise your face from the screen and be part of the community of people that bring this 200-year-old building to life every night. (Think Night from the Museum, but with less mammals and more ticket offers). There’s never been a better time to entertain something new.