The moment Waterloo Bridge was planned across the Thames, a new theatre to serve the transpontine coach trade was inevitable. The Old Vic opened in 1818. Originally called the Royal Coburg, it could seat a whopping 3,800. Kean was the first great actor to perform there. In 1831 he played Richard III, King Lear and Othello in one week.
Already a subscriber? Log in
As the US decides, so can you
Subscribe today and get a $50 Amazon gift card if you correctly predict the next US president.
- Unlimited access to spectator.com.au
- The weekly edition on the Spectator Australia app
- Spectator podcasts and newsletters
- Full access to spectator.co.uk
Or
Unlock this article
'The Old Vic', £20 and 'Closely Observed Theatre', £9.99 are available from the Spectator Bookshop, Tel: 08430 600033
You might disagree with half of it, but you’ll enjoy reading all of it. Try your first month for free, then just $2 a week for the remainder of your first year.
Comments
As the US decides, so can you
Subscribe today and get a $50 Amazon gift card if you correctly predict the next US president.
SUBSCRIBE AND ENTERAlready a subscriber? Log in