Last year, on International Women’s Day, the audio installation ‘Women of Bristol Old Vic’ was launched in Bristol Old Vic’s Front of House Space. Audiences could interact with the project by scanning QR codes on their phones and listen to the historical and current role of women in the theatre. Within a fortnight of the project’s launch, lockdown struck, and soon after the tracks were moved online to the theatre’s SoundCloud account. 

The audio project explores the role of unsung women in Bristol Old Vic’s past and present who have shaped the theatre to be what it is today – the oldest continually working theatre in the country. From archival information about the women who financially contributed to the building of the theatre to interviews with members of today’s empowering feminist productions, the tracks explore the roles of these women in the hope of inspiring the next generation of female theatre practitioners. The project was produced and created by Charlotte Churm, who, with a passion for history, archives and unsung narratives, was keen to champion female role models for a younger generation. 

The last 12 months have been historically unprecedented and monumental in the theatre industry’s history. So, the Women of Bristol Old Vic project has decided to mark this moment in history with a brand-new track, ‘Lockdown Ladies’. With virtual interviews taken place in lockdown, the track investigates how female theatre practitioners have adapted around the pandemic to continue making work at Bristol Old Vic. Featuring director superstar Sally Cookson, Wise Children Executive Producer Poppy Keeling and members of the Bristol Old Vic team, the extended track will show the perseverance and adaptive thinking of some of Bristol’s leading female theatre makers. As a new graduate, Charlotte wanted to expand the dialogue around the theatre industry in crisis, whilst looking at the resilience and optimism that has emerged from theatre makers during the pandemic. 

The track will be available to listen to from International Women’s Day 2021 and when the theatre re-opens, will be added to the Front of House installation alongside the rest of the audio project.

Lockdown Ladies

The cast have been rehearsing hard for our 2014 Christmas musical Swallows and Amazons. Listen to a few songs recorded from the rehearsal room.

Swallows and Amazons
27 Nov-17 Jan
Tickets: http://bit.ly/1lKUb6p

Songs by Neil Hannon
Recorded in the Bristol Old Vic rehearsal rooms November 2014

Swallow - Swallows and Amazons

Amazon Pirates - Swallows and Amazons

Listen to the songs of our family musical Swallows and Amazons from the UK tour, currently showing our Theatre until 17 Jan.

Swallows and Amazons
27 Nov-17 Jan
Tickets: bit.ly/1lKUb6p

Songs by Neil Hannon
Recorded in Leeds, 2012.

Swallows

1. Inside Chapter 1 Welcome to Inside

3. Inside Chapter 3 Audio Introduction

2. Inside Chapter 2 Access and Wellbeing Guide

4. Inside Chapter 4 Credits

0. Inside Contents

05 The Grinning Man | Stars In The Sky

04 The Grinning Man | Beauty And The Beast

03 The Grinning Man | Freak Show

02 The Grinning Man | Born Broken

01 The Grinning Man | Labyrinth

Told in true Bristol Old Vic style, Tom Morris (The Grinning Man, Swallows & Amazons) joins forces with Lee Lyford and Gwyneth Herbert (The Snow Queen) to present another festive feast for all the family – an enchanting new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ timeless tale, A Christmas Carol.

A Christmas Carol
29 Nov – 13 Jan 2019
bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/a-christmas-carol

Belle's Theme

Belle's Theme | A Christmas Carol

Dancing on Air is the final song in the show Romantics Anonymous. A celebration at the eventual wedding of our heroes Angélique and Jean-René as they finally overcome the obstacles to their unavoidable love for each other. All this as they fly into the air as if bubbles in a glass of champagne.

Composers Michael Kooman and Chris Diamond
Arranged by Simon Hale
Lead Vocals - Carly Bawden and Dominic Marsh with the Original London Company

https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/romantics-anonymous

"Dancing On Air" from Wise Children's Romantics Anonymous

Romantics Anonymous – Audio Description Notes

Women of Bristol Old Vic is a sound installation centred on inspirational women from the theatre's past and present. The interviews and stories captured aim to bring the voices of women in theatre to the forefront of the industry and celebrate their achievements across history. Women of Bristol Old Vic combines archive material, oral histories and locations across the theatre's foyer. This project was created and developed by Charlotte Churm and features Bristol Old Vic staff, creatives and collaborators.

Beauty Lives in Me - Single

Women of Bristol Old Vic Today

The Smell Of Lavender

Welcome To Bristol Old Vic

20th Century Women

String Works - EP

Our Founding Mothers

These are audio submissions to Open Stage Online (Week 1). A digital theatre with you centre stage.

'Boiling Ice' by George Descaillaux

'Pagliacci's Return' by Noël Sweeney

From love letters to weddings both on and off stage, explore the romances of Bristol Old Vic in this brand new sound installation. Our theatre has been bringing couples together since 1766 and we want to share their stories with you. 

Love and Romance at Bristol Old Vic was created by University of Bristol students Stella Parker, Rid Batt, Ed Lyness, Kate Bolton and Katie Smith with support from the University of Bristol Theatre Collection.

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