THE OLD VIC
An independent creative powerhouse for entertainment and education.
WE BELIEVE
Theatre makes the world better.
OUR MISSION
To invigorate, inspire and open doors through world-class theatre for all.
OUR PURPOSE
To enable anyone to experience, make and benefit from theatre.
Our Guiding Values
We dare, always dare, never letting ‘what is’ get in the way of ‘what if’. We pair creativity with curiosity — exploring ideas, celebrating our diverse contributions and finding new ways to keep our theatre at the forefront.
We know the difference theatre can make, first-hand. It puts fight in our spirit, to work with energy and passion, aim for the highest standards, deliver extraordinary work and create stories for all.
We choose kindness and include actively to create a place where anyone can belong. We check-in and make time for others, listening to learn and building equitable relationships based on empathy, trust and respect.
We’re all custodians of The Old Vic and part of its story. We’re mindful of our responsibility to the theatre, the people within it and the world around us. So, we work attentively, here to leave each thing better than we found it, for us and for the next generation.
Our Core Aims
To sustain The Old Vic as a resilient independent theatre with global cultural significance and a strong social mission.
To engage in person and online, through free education, community and social mobility projects, to positively impact life skills, enhance arts education and increase employment prospects.
To return and maintain The Old Vic to a breakeven financial model that enables delivery of our Aims, whilst protecting our long-term financial sustainability. To prioritise income generation, most significantly fundraising and secondary spend.
To create a public space and workplace where everyone feels welcome, respected and included; that demographically is more reflective of the diverse community in which we work. To contribute, through our work on stage, inclusive practices and our education and community projects, to the wellbeing, health and happiness of all who engage with us — artists, audiences, participants and staff.
To revitalise and futureproof the physical building for the next 100 years, creating a space that is modern, vibrant, environmentally conscious, commercially productive, non-excluding, accessible in every sense, available to and usable by everyone.