Membership FAQs

Find out more about how our memberships are changing:

• What is changing with Bristol Old Vic memberships?
• What inspired the new membership names?
• What are the new membership benefits?
• Why are we changing our membership?
• What are the main changes to benefits?
• Why are we changing the discount on tickets?
• I’m already a Friend, what will happen to my membership?
• I’m a Circle member, what will happen to my membership?
• When will these changes come into effect?
• What happens at the end of my current membership period?
• I pay by Direct Debit/standing order, what does this mean?
• Will I automatically join one of the new memberships?
• What if I don’t want to join one of the new membership levels?
• Can I join one of the new membership levels or become a Circle member immediately?
• What is different about the new Circle benefits?

What is changing with Bristol Old Vic memberships?

We are replacing the current Friends membership with three new membership levels: Orange, Lavender and Thunder.

Our three levels of Circle membership: Artists’ Circle, Associates’ Circle, and Directors’ Circle will remain in place, however we are making changes to some of the benefits.

What inspired the new membership names?

Each of our new memberships are inspired by our unique heritage, and the stories that make Bristol Old Vic special.

Orange: During our renovation, we found all manner of items left behind by our audiences, including candied orange peel, a favoured snack (and occasional projectile!) of previous Bristol Old Vic audiences. The fruity heritage doesn’t end there, as Coopers’ Hall was previously a fruit warehouse, and patrons would often buy tickets to shows from their local greengrocer!

Lavender: Lavender was chosen to remember the trailblazing spirit of our legendary Theatre Manager, Sarah McReady. Sarah was well-known by her lavender-scented perfume, but she is remembered today for the pioneering achievements she made in her 20 year tenure at the theatre, taking Bristol Old Vic from strength to strength. It is also said that Sarah’s ghost still occupies the building, so if you catch the scent of lavender, you might be in the presence of a true BOV icon.

Thunder: Bristol Old Vic’s Thunder Run is one of three surviving in the country, and the only one still in use, and we are incredibly proud is home to a unique piece of theatre history. It was used in the 18th Century to create the sound of thunder that would echo around the auditorium whenever a production needed to conjure up a storm. We are incredibly proud to be the home of this magical piece of theatre history.

What are the new membership benefits?

* Tiered ticket discounts, when booked during a single transaction:

• 1-2 shows: 5%
• 3-4 shows: 10%
• 5+ shows: 15%

Why are we changing our membership?

As a charity, we rely on the support we receive from memberships, which helps us do amazing things both on and off stage.

We want to make sure those who support us by becoming a member get the most out of their relationship with Bristol Old Vic. 

That’s why new memberships aim to put you at the heart of our stories with benefits that bring you closer to what we do: from a free welcome tour, to opportunities to get closer to the people who make our shows happen. 

That is also why we’ve created more levels and a wider range of benefits, so you can choose the membership that feels right for you.

You may remember we asked you to complete a members’ survey a few months ago. We’re really grateful to everyone who completed the survey, as we used your feedback to create the new range of memberships and offers.

What are the main changes to benefits?

• We’re standardising the priority booking period. Orange, Lavender and Thunder members will always get 24, 48 and 72 hours priority booking respectively. Circle members will get one week of priority booking.
• Ticket discounts are changing. We have introduced flexible pricing on tickets through our Pay What You Choose options, making more affordable tickets available to everyone. There is more information about members’ discounts and ticket prices here.
• It will be easier for members to get credit or return their tickets if they can’t attend a performance.
• There will be more opportunities for members to get closer to our work, as we’re offering free tours, and creating a range of exciting members’ events.

Why are we changing the discount on tickets?

We aren’t removing our ticket discounts. Depending on which membership level you choose, you can get up to 15% off tickets.

As a non-profit organisation, our ticket sales only make up a small portion of our income, and we rely on philanthropic support to deliver our work. We want to keep ticket prices accessible, so in 2020 we introduced Pay What You Choose pricing. This includes an Open Concession ticket, which anyone can purchase. 

This approach is helping more people access affordable tickets and attend shows at Bristol Old Vic, and it means that you no longer need to be a member to access lower priced tickets.

We are also responding to feedback from current members. In our recent members survey, current members told us that the main reason they decided to join was to support Bristol Old Vic, and that they considered Priority Booking to be the most important benefit. 

A lot of members also told us they were happy to pay for Standard price tickets, or even Pay It Forward, which subsidises our Open Concession tickets.

I’m already a Friend, what will happen to my membership?

If you have a Friends membership, you can continue to receive the benefits associated with your current membership until it expires.

Once your current membership period comes to an end, you will no longer be able to receive the benefits associated with Friends membership. Instead, you will need to move to one of our new membership levels (Orange, Lavender or Thunder), or you can choose not to continue support as a member.

I’m a Circle member, what will happen to my membership?

If you’re a member of the Artists’ Circle, Associates’ Circle, or Directors’ Circle, you will not have to change your membership, as all three levels will remain in place. There are however some changes to the benefits. You can see what the updated benefits are in the table above.

You will see that we have removed the ticket discounts for Circle members, however you can continue to receive 25% off tickets for shows that are currently on-sale (including Outlier, Hamlet and Nutcracker). Ticket discounts will not be available for new shows announced from 6 July.

When will these changes come into effect?

New memberships will be on sale from the 6 July at the latest.

If you have a Friends membership, you will not be affected until your existing membership expires and your benefits will not be affected until then. You can then decide whether to join or upgrade to a new membership, or you can choose not to renew.

If you have a Circle membership, very little will change, but you tickets for shows announced on 6 July will no longer qualify for discounts.

What happens at the end of my current membership period?

We will let you know when your membership is about to expire. Memberships last 12 months from the date of purchase. If you’re unsure when your membership expires, you can email us at memberships@bristololdvic.org.uk.

If you have a Friends membership, it will automatically lapse when you come to the end of your membership period and you can decide whether to join or upgrade to a new membership, or you can choose not to renew.

If you are a Circle member, what will happen depends whether your membership is set to auto-renew, and what method you use to pay for your membership.

If it is set to auto-renew, your membership will automatically be renewed, unless you wish to cancel your membership.

If your membership is not set to auto-renew, we will remind you that your membership is about to expire. You can then choose to renew your membership or join a different level, or you can let it expire, in which case you will no longer be eligible for any benefits.

I pay by Direct Debit/standing order, what does this mean?

If you pay by Direct Debit or standing order, we will let you know when your membership is about to expire.

Your Direct Debit or standing order will continue to be paid automatically, unless you choose to cancel your membership, so we will contact you to confirm what you’d like us to do with your membership.

Will I automatically join one of the new memberships?

No, we will always let you know when your membership is about to expire to ask what you would like us to do with your membership.

What if I don’t want to join one of the new membership levels?

That’s fine. Your membership won’t automatically renew so you can just let your current membership lapse. You can also let us know if you’d like to cancel your membership.

Can I join one of the new membership levels or become a Circle member immediately?

Yes, if you like the look of our new memberships or one of the Circle levels, we can move you over immediately so that you can start receiving the associated benefits. Just get in touch and let us know.

Orange membership costs the same as Friends (as long as you set it to auto-renew) so you won’t have to pay anything to change.

You can also choose to upgrade your membership at any time, just let us know if you’re interested in upgrading.

What is different about the new Circle benefits?

The biggest change that might impact you is that we are removing discounts on tickets for Circle supporters.

This is because for most Bristol Old Vic shows, we now offer Pay What You Choose pricing, which means more flexibility for you and everyone who wants to see a show at the theatre. 

• If you’re happy to pay the Standard price, that’s brilliant. 
• If you want to pay less for tickets, you can choose an Open Concession which is open to everyone, and you’ll be welcomed with open arms. 
• If you’re feeling generous and you have the means, you may even consider a Pay It Forward ticket, which subsides two Open Concession tickets. This approach is helping more people access affordable tickets and attend shows at Bristol Old Vic.

We also surveyed members recently, and found that the majority of our Circle members would be happy to pay full price for tickets without a discount. You can still pay less for your tickets by choosing the Open Concession price option, but we know that many members choose to Pay It Forward, or give the cost of their discount back as a donation.

The other differences are that we are making 1-week priority booking as standard for Circle members across most Bristol Old Vic shows.

In addition, we will be hosting more members events throughout the year, as well as inviting members to enjoy a free tour. We are also offering special offers and access to our digital programme and making it easy for members to get a refund if they can’t attend a show. Associates’ and Directors’ Circle members will also be invited to select Press Nights and Dress Rehearsals.

New benefits for Artists’, Associates’ and Directors’ Circle members:

Artists Circle:

• 1 week priority booking on selected shows
• 10% discount on food and drink at our Bar & Café
• Free People’s Tour (first year only)
• No fuss refund if unable to attend an event or performance*
• Free programmes for all Bristol Old Vic Productions
• Invitations to talks and events, with access to special drinks receptions and opportunities to meet cast and creatives
• Free Bristol Old Vic Members’ Day tickets
• Special offers and access to selected shows in our Live Stream and On-Demand programme
• Recognition of support online
• A new membership card

Associates’ Circle:

All of the above, PLUS:

• Invitation to one Press Night performance per season
• Invitation to one Dress or Technical rehearsal per season

Directors’ Circle:

All of the above, PLUS:

• Invitation to three Press Night performances per season
• Invitation to in-person Season Launch
• Recognition of support in show programmes
• Opportunities to gain deeper insight and bespoke opportunities around your interests

*If possible, please try to give us 24 hours’ notice if you are unable to attend a show.