Rebecca Dawson to Lead Bristol Old Vic Amidst Challenges, Advocates Balanced Celebrity Casting and Increased Arts Funding
Rebecca Dawson will become the executive director and joint chief executive of Bristol Old Vic starting 6 January 2026, coinciding with the theatre's 260th anniversary year. She will collaborate with artistic director Nancy Medina to navigate a challenging period for the theatre sector caused by Covid-19, Brexit, austerity measures, cost-of-living pressures, unpredictable audiences, and competition from streaming services.
Dawson supports the use of celebrity casting as part of a mixed strategy to attract audiences, emphasizing that stars should be appropriate for the production and selected through a proper process. She cited examples of high-profile casts currently in major productions, including Ncuti Gatwa in Born With Teeth, Alicia Vikander in The Lady From the Sea, Susan Sarandon in Mary Page Marlowe, and Bryan Cranston in All My Sons, alongside Bristol Old Vic's recent casts with Mel Giedroyc and Jayde Adams.
Celebrity casting can act as a gateway to theatre for some audiences and aid in diversifying revenue streams, such as pantomimes that depend on big-name casting. However, Dawson stressed that the industry should not rely solely on stars; productions must maintain quality, and talent should take precedence over mere celebrity status.
Furthermore, Dawson advocates for increased public subsidy for the arts, noting that Arts Council England grants have remained flat since around 2012, effectively amounting to nearly a 50% cut in real terms. She highlighted the importance of the arts in reflecting universal stories and community values and urged theatres to engage broad audiences while being mindful of social contexts and funding realities.
