https://www.historyhit.com/locations/the-bristol-old-vic/
#History of The #Bristol #OldVic
The Bristol Old Vic first opened on May 30 #1766 with a capacity for more than 1600, which is 1000 more than the theatre holds today. It was technically an illegal venue as #theatre was heavily #censored at the time by the Lord Chamberlain under the Licensing Act of 1737, due to political offence caused by #satirical #plays.
The theatre #entrance was therefore initially hidden away from the street behind a row of houses and to gain admission, people had to knock on the door of a number of neighbouring private homes which they then walked through to gain entrance from the backyard.
In 1788 it the theatre was awarded its Royal patent and its legalised status allowed it to openly advertise and legally perform full length plays.
The theatre has been through a number of refurbishments during which time archaeologists discovered some 19th century graffiti in the theatre, including a graffiti style sketch of a schooner in full-sail, said to be made by the theatre’s carpenter E J Harwell in 1859. In #1972, a new theatre complex designed by Peter Moro was completed, which resulted in a number of inner buildings being #demolished including the #original #stage area of the 1766 theatre.
The Bristol Old Vic
