Young Vic Reborn

London’s exciting Young Vic Theatre reopened its doors on 11 October following a major renovation. The architects were Haworth Tompkins, and the general feeling of public and press was that they had dramatically revitalized the building while retaining the ethos and spirit of the Young Vic company and its aims.

Though restoring the main auditorium in such a way that you can hardly tell it has had any changes, the new building has become a larger, more flexible theatre complex. There are two new spaces for plays and workshops: the Maria (capacity 160) and the Clare (capacity 80). These were named after theatre designer Maria Bjornson and theatre director Clare Venables. There are also new and much more welcoming, expanded public areas. The Cut Bar & Restaurant is a split level construction that offers extensive, open entertaining space and an outdoor terrace. The backstage facilities and technical infrastructure have been modernized, improved and expanded.

Originally designed by Bill Howell at a cost of £60,000, the original Young Vic theatre building opened on 11 September 1970. It was intended to be a temporary home for, perhaps, up to five years. 30 years later the fabric of the theatre was crumbling but the institution was an established and important venue in the London theatre community. It was decided to keep the unique auditorium and improve it; and to rebuild the rest of the theatre as a shell surrounding it.

While the rebuilding occurred, between 2004 and 2006, the Young Vic went on “Walkabout”. The Main House has now re-opened on time and on budget on 11 October with the joyous community opera Tobias and the Angel by composer Jonathan Dove and librettist David Lan, who is also the Artistic Director of the Young Vic and the man who led the rebuilding project from its inception, through fund raising and on to completion. This project was so exhilarating and a perfect iconic event for the re-opening of this community-oriented theatre because, alongside professional singers and musicians, the chorus and choirs of all ages were drawn from the residents of Lambeth and Southwark, the two area of South London served by the Young Vic Theatre directly.

Haworth Tompkins is a London based architecture studio with an award-winning portfolio of buildings in the arts, residential and commercial sectors. It works in the UK and abroad. Theatre projects are an important strand of investigation and projects include the rebuilding of the Royal Court Theatre, the Almeida temporary theatres at Gainsborough Studios and Kings Cross, the National Theatre Studio, the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London, the Egg Children’s Theatre in Bath and, soon opening, the North Wall Theatre in Oxford.

The Young Vic Theatre is a major creative force in London. It has over 100,000 visitors each year. It is considered one of the most exciting and innovative theatres in the world. David Lan was appointed artistic director in 2000. Since then he has established the Genesis Directors Project as well as the Jerwood Directors Award and the Young Vic Award. He won an Olivier Award for the entire 2004 season and then proceeded to lead the £12.5 million rebuild of the Young Vic as well as the two year "walkabout" while the theatre was closed.  The Young Vic has an extensive programme not only of productions but also of Teaching, Participation and research aimed at local schools and colleges. The Funded Ticket Scheme also offers free tickets to all school children in Lambeth and Southwark. The innovative "Two Boroughs Projects" offers every local resident of Lambeth and Southwark the chance to visit a production free of charge.

As part of its re-opening the Young Vic has also unveiled one of the world’s largest art commissions: a 180-panel installation, a collaboration between artist Clem Crosby and the architectural firm of Haworth Tompkins. Specially commissioned at the beginning of the theatre’s £12.5 million rebuild, this art work is an integral part of the fabric of the building. It comprises 180 8ft x 4ft individual hand paintings in deep cadmium yellow on black industrial cement board encased in silver mesh. The installation is, itself, the outer wall of the main auditorium. The design is a constantly shifting surface that transforms the appearance of the building in changing light conditions throughout the years. As darkness falls each evening a soft light illuminates the panels.

In their first season back in the Young Vic Theatre, the company is offering a typically eclectic and wide-ranging programme.

The Main House

After opening with the community opera, Tobias and the Angel, the Christmas show will be the world premiere of a sung-through musical tale co-produced by the Opera Group and called The Enchanted Pig. David Lan then directs The Soldier’s Fortune, a restoration comedy by Thomas Otway that continues the Young Vic tradition of finding and reviving unjustly neglected classics. Young Vic Associate Director Rufus Norris will then direct the premiere of a new adaptation of D B C Pierre’s Booker Prize novel Vernon God Little.

The New Spaces

The new theatres are called the Maria (capacity 160) and the Clare (capacity 80). They are named after theatre designer Maria Bjornson (1949-2002) and theatre director Clare Venables (1943-2003) to commemorate these two talented women who have given so much to the theatre. Among the presentations will be new plays by Dennis Kelly (Love and Money) and Debbie Tucker Green (Generations). Four short, early plays by Bertolt Brecht will be presented in new translations as part of The Big Brecht Fest.

The Young Vic is also introducing a policy of new, low ticket prices. For more information and to book: www.youngvic.org