A farewell to Charlotte Geeves “There are very few organisations that become part of your soul, but Bristol Old Vic is one of those."

Bristol Old Vic Executive Director and co-CEO Charlotte Geeves will be leaving us this month to lead the Toronto-based National Ballet of Canada as their Executive Director.

Charlotte has led Bristol Old Vic for six years as Executive Director and co-CEO, guiding the organisation through Covid and a change in artistic leadership. So before she hangs up her BOV lanyard for good, we wanted to ask her for her top five memories she'll take with her from her time at Bristol Old Vic...

1. Dr Semmelweis

I have never felt so nervous at a press night as I did at this one. This production was on the cards when I arrived in 2019 but was delayed due to Covid. It finally opened in Jan 2022 and I was so aware of the time and effort that had gone into the production – from the initial conversation between BOVs Artistic Director Tom Morris and Mark Rylance in 2017, the development of the script with Stephen Brown, the resource that BOV and Sonia Friedman Productions had put into the show and the additional financial investment that came from Sonia Friedman Productions, Glass Half Full and National Theatre, we finally got it over the line! The success of the show led to a West End transfer and I felt very proud of what we had achieved and so delighted for both Tom and Mark. 

2. Orpheus & Eurydice

This was an ambitious production led by our Engagement department, with 140 young people from across our young companies and members of the community who we’ve worked with for many years, directed by Lisa Gregan. I’ve always struggled to understand Greek tragedies due to the complexity of the language, but this version was fantastically told and a truly wonderful production. I found myself sobbing with pride during the curtain call, at the achievement of everyone involved. 

3. Musical conversion!

I’ve never been a fan of the big musical and so it has been a delight to discover that there are some that really do float my boat – Kathy & Stella, Starter for Ten, How to Win Against History – musicals with heart, earworms, that genuinely make me laugh – it’s been a surprising journey for me but a thoroughly enjoyable one. 

4. Nancy's support

My role as an Exec Director means at times I have to make decisions at speed and of course I get things wrong. A moment that sticks in my mind, was after a team meeting, when a few staff felt (quite rightly) that I hadn’t addressed the crux of a problem properly. I went to speak to Nancy for some advice on my misstep. She was wonderfully direct, compassionate and clear. I will never forget her advice about how to re-frame my thinking and be able to really put myself in the shoes of others. 

5. Why it matters

Sometimes the job can be quite lonely and the decisions you have to make are tough. I was talking this through with someone I know well, and they reminded me that the role is about putting the organisation first, to ensure that BOV was still be here in another 260 years. They are right!