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| Old Vic New Voices | |
|---|---|
| Name | Old Vic New Voices |
| Formation | 2001 |
| Type | Theatre company; talent development programme |
| Headquarters | London |
| Parent organization | The Old Vic |
Old Vic New Voices Old Vic New Voices is a talent development and community engagement programme affiliated with The Old Vic theatre in London that supports emerging playwrights, directors, actors and producers. The programme has worked with institutions including the National Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, Bush Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and BBC to nurture artists and stage new work. It connects participants with funding bodies such as Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Wellcome Trust and cultural partners like British Council, London Theatre Company and Mayor of London initiatives.
Founded in 2001 under the artistic leadership of Kevin Spacey's early tenure at The Old Vic, the programme evolved through partnerships with figures and organisations such as Ian McKellen, Nicholas Hytner, Danny Boyle and institutions including Young Vic, Royal Exchange Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and Almeida Theatre. Across the 2000s and 2010s it expanded from writers’ workshops to multi‑disciplinary labs involving creatives linked to Shakespeare's Globe, Orange Tree Theatre, Donmar Warehouse and Royal Court Theatre. During funding cycles involving Arts Council England and philanthropic support from trusts related to Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the programme mounted projects with collaborators such as Channel 4, BBC Radio 4, National Theatre of Scotland and festival partners like Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Latitude Festival.
The programme's mission aligns with institutions like The Old Vic and strategic partners National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal Court to develop talent through schemes resembling playwriting residencies, directing fellowships and producer pipelines, engaging networks that include Actors Centre, Stage Directors UK and UK Theatre. Core strands have paralleled initiatives at BBC Writersroom and Channel 4 Screenwriting Course, offering commissions, readings and rehearsed workshops that feed into venues such as Soho Theatre, Menier Chocolate Factory, Tricycle Theatre and touring circuits including UK touring and international exchanges with St. Ann's Warehouse, Lincoln Center and The Public Theater.
Education work involved partnerships with higher education institutions and charities including Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, University of the Arts London, Goldsmiths, University of London and youth organisations such as Into Theatre, Big Noise and Youth Theatre Arts UK. Outreach programming mirrored collaborations with local authorities like Southwark Council and initiatives by Mayor of London cultural strategies, offering workshops in community hubs, schools and prisons alongside schemes resembling those run by Headlong, Complicité and Shared Experience. Practitioner mentoring connected cohorts to established professionals including Lyn Gardner, Michael Grandage, Rufus Norris and Polly Findlay.
Productions incubated through the programme have moved to stages and broadcasters like The Old Vic, West End, Royal Court Theatre, BBC Television and festivals such as Edinburgh Festival Fringe and London International Festival of Theatre. Collaborations have involved creatives associated with Emma Rice, Phyllida Lloyd, Stephen Daldry, Sam Mendes and companies such as Complicité, RSC, Punchdrunk and Mischief Theatre; some projects gained transfers to venues including Shaftesbury Theatre, Apollo Theatre and international houses like Sydney Opera House and Public Theater. Script development labs produced work later championed by producing bodies including Bush Theatre, Soho Theatre and producers with links to Francesca Moody and Nica Burns.
Alumni and projects have received awards and nominations from bodies such as the Laurence Olivier Awards, Critics' Circle Theatre Awards, Evening Standard Theatre Awards, UK Theatre Awards and literary prizes including the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and Perrier Award-linked recognitions at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Funders and partners highlighting achievements have included Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and corporate partners affiliated with Barclays and Goldman Sachs arts programmes; artists connected to the scheme have gone on to win Olivier Awards, Tony Awards and British Academy Television Awards.
Governance has involved trustees and advisors drawn from boards and networks associated with The Old Vic and wider cultural institutions including Arts Council England, British Council, Mayor of London cultural advisers and figures from producing houses such as Nica Burns and Sonia Friedman. Funding historically combined public funding streams from Arts Council England with philanthropic grants from foundations such as Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, corporate sponsorships and earned income via ticketed showcase events commissioned by partners like BBC Arts and private donors connected to arts philanthropy in the UK and internationally.
Category:Theatre companies in London