Alumni Shine in Bristol Old Vic’s Climate Drama

Flora Wilson Brown’s climate science drama, The Beautiful Future Is Coming, is currently playing in the main auditorium at Bristol Old Vic (“★ ★ ★ ★ ★” – Bristol Post; “A wonderfully sculpted production” – WhatsOnStage). With BOV Artistic Director Nancy Medina at the helm, the one-act play follows six characters across 244 years of the climate crisis. From pre-Central Park Manhattan to futuristic Svalbard, the play spans multiple locations as audiences get to know three couples, each grappling with their own unique climate anxieties and societal expectations.

A review of the company credits reveals many familiar names in the mix. With the Theatre School and the King Street theatre sharing such a rich history, it’s no surprise that our graduates and alumni often find themselves working at the iconic venue and producing house:

• Nancy Medina (Director) – MA Drama Directing ‘14
• Aldo Vázquez (Set & Costume Designer) – MA Theatre Design ‘16
• Holly Coulson (Set Design Assistant) – MA Performance Design ‘24
• James Bradwell (playing Malcom) – BA Professional Acting ‘18
• Karen Habens (Deputy Stage Manager) – BA Stage Management ‘02
• Mim Evison (Assistant Stage Manager) – BA Stage Management ‘18
• Frankie Neville (Stage Management Placement) – BA Production Arts ‘25
• Rhys Gillard (Production Carpenter) – Stage Management & Technical ‘98
• Bethany Boldero (Wardrobe Maintenance) – BA Costume for Theatre, Television & Film ‘24
• Special mentions to: Carol Fairlamb (Vocal Coach), former BOVTS Head of Voice and MFA Professional Voice Studies Course, and Cliff Thorne (Scenic Painter) and Jen Stoner (Stage Technician) who have worked on multiple BOVTS shows as scenic artists.

We caught up with Designer, Aldo, and Set Design Assistant, Holly, to ask them how the experience had been. Aldo commented: “My time at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School gave me so many tools to communicate, work and collaborate with creatives and technical teams in order to deliver to a professional standard. I am very thankful and proud of the training and the people I met while I was on the course, but also out here in the industry!”

Holly followed up: “In completing the MA Performance Design course last year, I have been able to directly apply my experience and skillset since working in the industry. It has been a really inspiring experience to assist Aldo on The Beautiful Future is Coming and I am very thankful for the opportunities that have arisen from my training at BOVTS.”

Readers can check out Aldo’s costume illustrations below, as well as the beautiful model box (header image). Holly’s work can be viewed on her website, hollycoulsondesign.com.

Collaboration is at the heart of everything that Bristol Old Vic Theatre School delivers – and hearing stories about alumni working together long after graduation is incredibly exciting. We’re wishing the company of The Beautiful Future Is Coming all the best for the remainder of their run – break a leg!

The Beautiful Future Is Coming runs at Bristol Old Vic until Sat 7 June. Further details and tickets available at bristololdvic.org.uk.

Header image & illustrations: Aldo Vázquez / aldovazquezdesign.com