cross--small
  • What's On
  • About Us
  • Take Part
  • For Artists
  • Donate & Support
basket Basket account Account search Search
  • What's On
  • Take Part
  • Your Visit
  • Café Bar
  • Schools
  • Groups
  • About Us
  • For Artists
  • Membership
  • Donate & Support
  • Access
  • Jobs
  • News & Blog
  • Production Services
  • Hire Us
  • Contact Us
Box Office : 0117 987 7877
Mon–Fri, 12–6pm | Sat, 2.30pm–6pm
Bar & Café :
Mon - Sat 10am til late
Heritage Tours
See What’s On
  • facebookFacebook
  • X
  • instagramInstagram
  • Youtube
Bristol Old Vic, King Street, Bristol, BS1 4ED

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN

mail Sign up to our newsletter

An Audience With the Past

See characters, playbills and posters from the past 250 years side by side for the very first time

What initially started out as just one wall of artistically arranged posters has since become the the biggest artistic installation within our Heritage Lottery-funded project.

Delivered by local artist Emily Ketteringham, An Audience with the Past features characters from a wide selection of Bristol Old Vic productions, stretching across the horseshoe walls of our auditorium's Dress Circle, Upper Circle and Gallery. 

Wander at your leisure through the top three tiers of our auditorium to discover this vast collection of playbills and posters, adorned with real quotes from our archives (as well as those at Bristol Archives and the University of Bristol Theatre Collection); from show reports to reviews, to complaint letters the theatre has received.

Please note that this installation is unavailable during show times.


Exploring our Heritage...

Discover more about this installation with artist Emily Ketteringham on our Blog
Section Menuarrow-right--normal
  • Heritage
  • Interpretation
    • Window to the Past
    • Noises Off: 250 Years of Sound Technology in the Theatre
    • The House is Open
    • Trials and Triumphs: 250 Years of theatre on King Street
    • King Street: From Marsh to Metropolis
    • An Audience With the Past
  • Theatre Tours
mail Sign up to our newsletter
Box Office : 0117 987 7877
Mon–Fri, 12–6pm | Sat, 2.30pm–6pm
Café Bar :
Mon - Sat 10am til late
Heritage Tours
See What’s On
  • Contact
    • Press
      • Jobs
        • facebookFacebook
        • X
        • instagramInstagram
        • Youtube
        Bristol Old Vic, King Street, Bristol, BS1 4ED
        ace-logo
        © Copyright 2025 Bristol Old Vic and Theatre Royal Trust LimitedCompany No. 00756007 | Registered Charity No. 228235
        • Credits
        • Using this website
        • Privacy
        • Cookies