Our Year in Numbers

How does Bristol Old Vic make money? 

In 2023/24 our turnover increased to £6.5m. This was from a growth in self-generated income which rose to c80% of all income. Activity that contributed to the increase included improved ticket sales, fundraising and profit from our hospitality activity. c20% of income came from public funding, which will reduce further in 2024/25 as we no longer receive investment from Bristol City Council. 

Where does Bristol Old Vic spend money? 

In 2023/24 52.5% of our spend was directed to shows, artists, creatives and freelancers together with our education and artist development programmes. The team to support our creative programme plus the maintenance and operation of the building accounted for 47.5%. 

Why does Bristol Old Vic get public subsidy?

The investment we receive is used to fund our extensive engagement and artist development programmes and our shows. These provide essential creative education for young people, and the space for writers and artists to develop their craft. We're perfectly sized and experts in developing and presenting brand new stage work - productions that can grow into hits that tour the UK or appear in the West End. Together our work supports the UK's creative sector which is one of the biggest net contributors to the public purse.

We make the investment work hard for us and for Bristol. For every £1 we receive in public money we generate £5.25 of income. We contribute even more to the city's economy with additional spend from thousands of ticket holders, visitors, cast and creatives on accommodation, restaurants and travel.

How do we chose what ends up on the stage?

The majority of Bristol Old Vic’s overall income comes from ticket sales, so in the Theatre and the Weston Studio we want to ensure we’re developing, producing and programming work that will speak to and appeal to a broad range of audiences. We will always ask whether the work we are making presenting has the potential to be popular and successful both here in Bristol and across the UK.

This means embracing creative risks, tapping into what contemporary, diverse audiences want to see and supporting artists to make innovative and ambitious work that has the potential to have a rich future life and to reach as many people as possible. 

What about audiences?

Our audiences are at the heart of everything we do. We think carefully about how the work we develop and present will appeal to our existing audiences and importantly, develop new ones. Our aim is to build an audience that reflects all of Bristol’s communities which means welcoming more people with protected characteristics to present more work on our stages and be part of the audience.

Our audience development work include providing access performances on 10% of our shows in the year and working with our community partners and schools to distribute thousands of free tickets.

We also want to ensure tickets are as affordable as we can make then with a range of prices available for every production, alongside a no-questions-asked open concession rate.

The Arts are for Everyone

It's important to us that everyone has an opportunity to be creative no matter their experience, background or circumstances. We believe access to the arts is a fundamental right for everyone, leading to greater health and wellbeing for individuals and a happier, healthier society.

We’re keen to make sure our engagement programmes are open to all young people, including those who may not otherwise hear about them. Most are free, and we offer bursaries for Young Company too.

Bristol Old Vic has lots of opportunities to take part, and they’re open to everyone. 

Offstage business 

We've grown the profit generated from our commercial trading over the last few years. That money is invested back into all the charitable activity described above. When you buy a coffee, a pie or a slushie at Kitchen+Bar, you're directly supporting that activity too. Thank you! 

Our commercial activity also includes our Workshop, a leading set maker for other theatres, and our film team which expertly captures and edits live theatre for broadcast, cinema release and streaming.

As the real-term value of public investment continues to decline and our costs continue to increase we rely more heavily on self-generated income and your support through donations, memberships and corporate partnerships.

Thank you!

Alongside all our donors, members, group bookers, ticket buyers, visitors and participants, we're grateful to the funding bodies that support Bristol Old Vic too, especially Arts Council England. We were the first non-London based theatre to receive funding when the Arts Council was founded in 1946. 

Please see here for all the organisations and individuals who make what we do possible.