RABBLE Theatre are deeply saddened to hear of the closure of all undergraduate degree courses at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, owing to factors including cuts in grants and restrictions on international students since the decision to leave the EU.
BOVTS is where our founder directors, Dani and Toby, met whilst training and where many of the freelance creatives who we’ve enjoyed working with over the years developed their craft. For 80 years, it has been recognised as one of England’s greatest theatre schools, consistently delivering outstanding talent to our industry, including household names such as Jeremy Irons, Daniel Day Lewis, Naomie Harris, Olivia Colman, Patrick Stewart and Samantha Bond, as well as the lesser-known actors who keep our touring and regional theatres going, plus the vital backstage creatives working in design, costume, sound, lighting, production and stage management.
To learn that the theatre school can no longer afford to train professionals serves as a brutal reminder of the severe challenges that the English theatre industry is facing.
The RABBLE team offer our thoughts to all those affected.
You can read the full statement from the theatre school, here.