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5th November 2026
A Night of Theatre, Cake, and Memories: Celebrating 80 Years of BOVTS
The celebrations for the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’s 80th anniversary continued in spectacular style last week, bringing together generations of talent, history, and friendship for an unforgettable evening at Bristol’s Tobacco Factory Theatres.
The stars aligned perfectly for the occasion. A talented ensemble of our BA Professional Acting third-year students were in full swing of their highly acclaimed run of Romeo & Juliet. To make the evening even more meaningful, the production was helmed by Sir Gregory Doran, an alumnus of the School.
The atmosphere in the theatre was buzzing as we welcomed a vibrant crowd from across the School’s illustrious history. Alumni, past and present colleagues, and close friends of the School gathered to share stories, reflect on decades of theatrical excellence, and toast to the future. The evening was filled with laughter, nostalgic memories, and fantastic hospitality.
After a spell-binding performance of the Shakespeare classic Romeo & Juliet, the audience was treated to a Q&A with Greg, hosted by our artistic director Emma Callander. They talked about his relationship with the School, his love of Shakespeare… and what’s coming next.
It was a beautiful reminder of the tight-knit, enduring community that makes the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School so exceptional. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, to the team at the Tobacco Factory Theatres, and to the cast and creative team of Romeo & Juliet for providing such a brilliant backdrop to our celebrations.
Here’s to the next 80 years of nurturing world-class talent!
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Photos (c) Nick Ebbage