Robert Gorelangton

A brown-noser’s history of the Old Vic and National Theatre

<span style="color: #222222;">A review of The Old Vic: The Story of a Great Theatre from Kean to Olivier to Spacey, by Terry Coleman, and Closely Observed Theatre: From the National to the Old Vic, by Jonathan Croall. Where's the critical thinking?</span>

issue 15 November 2014
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  • The Old Vic: The Story of a Great Theatre from Kean to Olivier to Spacey

    Terry Coleman

    Faber, pp. 274

  • Closely Observed Theatre: From the National to the Old Vic

    Jonathan Croall

    Fantom, pp. 220

The moment Waterloo Bridge was planned across the Thames, a new theatre to serve the transpontine coach trade was inevitable. The Old Vic opened in 1818. Originally called the Royal Coburg, it could seat a whopping 3,800. Kean was the first great actor to perform there. In 1831 he played Richard III, King Lear and Othello in one week.

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