Bristol Old Vic's Best of 2014

In the absence of a Charlie Brooker style Newswipe to round up 2014 at Bristol Old Vic, we've asked the staff of Bristol Old Vic to name their top moments of the year:

"Here are my top three moments of 2014, which I find hard to prioritise… Seeing Swallow sail again. Erebus Ensemble singing in The Songs that Went To War during Bristol Proms. A Midsummer Night’s Dream opening in LA."

Emma Stenning, Executive Director

[caption id="attachment_176471583" align="aligncenter" width="696"] The Mechanicals in A Midsummer Night's Dream - photo by Simon Annand[/caption]

"Jane Eyre. The end of part one, and being desperate to see part 2!"

Sian Henderson, Young Company Producer

"The first outing for our new Blahblahblah host Anna Freeman, who went out to face the crowd slightly tremulous and came back after making them eat out of her hand with a big old smile on her face. Then she goes and gets her novel, A Fair Fight, published…. She is a ginger twinkly star."

Sharon Clark, Literary Producer

"Aidan (Operations Manager) doing pilates class every Wednesday morning to prepare for his charity run. Oh, the fun we had at his expense, it fills me with glee. I very much enjoyed watching everyone do the half-marathon and raising money for Cots for Tots, such a great cause."

Cameron Cheek, Operations Assistant

"Daniel Hope making his entrance during Bristol Proms through the Standing Pit. While playing the violin. Rochester's proposal in Jane Eyre. Sitting in on the first read-through of Swallows and Amazons. The utterly ecstatic audience at the end of every performance of Dead Dog in a Suitcase."

Megan Brand, Marketing Manager

[caption id="attachment_176471582" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Dead Dog in a Suitcase audience - photo by ShotAway[/caption]

"Hearing Valentina Lisitsa playing Michael Nyman's theme from The Piano over the relay while I was working in the office during Bristol Proms."

Lucy Knowles, Deputy Box Office Manager

"Coming back to the theatre late at night to watch the dress rehearsal of The Invisible Circus' Under The Dark Moon before its opening night. And standing at the side of the Dress Circle watching Joey the horse on stage at the War Horse launch."

Lisa Cormack, Sales & Groups Co-ordinator

[caption id="attachment_176471584" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Joey at the War Horse launch[/caption]

"Jane Eyre. The end of part one, and being desperate to see part 2!"

Sian Henderson, Young Company Producer

"Working with Director Sally Cookson on the Made in Bristol project. I wouldn't have had that experience anywhere else."

Sam Bailey, Box Office Receptionist / Made In Bristol graduate

"When Michael Foreman (writer and illustrator) and his wonderful wife Louise came to see Toby Hulse’s production of his book, War Game, it was an absolute pleasure to spend the day with them and watch them delight in the adaptation. Working in a theatre, bumping into your favourite performers in the corridor is practically a rite of passage – thanks to Ferment Fortnight my paths have crossed with Greg Wohead a fair few times!"

Charlie Coombes, Press Assistant

Thank you to everyone who has supported us in 2014 - Happy New Year!