‘Game-changing’ loan from Lambeth Council enables expansion of historic Old Vic
The new Backstage building with cafe, restaurant and performance space is connected to The Old Vic’s main auditorium – credit: Old Vic / Phillip Vile
For the first time in 200 years, The Old Vic has expanded its offering, creating a brand-new hub for culture and creativity that is open to all. Lambeth Council were delighted to be among those invited to celebrate the launch of the ‘Backstage’ building last Thursday evening.
The building was supported by innovative seed-funding from Lambeth Council, including a loan and £585,000 grant from Lambeth’s Future Workspace Fund, described by Old Vic CEO Laura Stevenson as a ‘game-changing’ contribution to the project.
The new space will enable the world-famous theatre to expand its award-winning community programmes, opening the arts up to Lambeth communities who are underrepresented in the theatre industry.
Over 1,000 young people a year will benefit from new opportunities, including paid placements, employability training, hands-on experience, peer-to-peer learning, work experience and mentoring.
Backstage will offer a daytime cafe and workspace, a vibrant bar and restaurant, a free script library, a dedicated education studio, a writers’ room, studio and events spaces. All of the spaces are open to the public, although some may require advance booking.
The launch follows the publication of Lambeth’s Growth Plan earlier this year, which sets out our mission to stimulate investment in our priority growth sectors, including the creative industries, as well as our ambitions for inclusive growth.
Backstage will contribute directly to these ambitions - providing over 9,000 square feet of affordable workspace, opportunities for young people, supporting 125 creative businesses each year and creating 44 new creative sector jobs in Waterloo and South Bank and enhancing cultural floorspace in the borough.
In addition to our affordable workspace policy, Lambeth’s Future Workspace Fund directly supports our valuable growth sectors while protecting affordable workspace in our borough.
As part of the funding agreement with the Old Vic, the theatre will provide £1.9million of in-kind community benefits over the next decade.
Claire Holland, Leader of Lambeth Council, attended the launch event and said:
- “The opening of Backstage at the Old Vic is a historic moment for Lambeth’s world-class arts and cultural sector. I’m proud that Lambeth Council was able to support the project from its earliest stages, providing seed funding that helped to unlock millions of pounds in support from donors.
“In Lambeth, we’re enormously proud of our culture of creativity. The arts don’t just entertain – they employ tens of thousands of people and offer unique opportunities to residents young and old.
“Lambeth’s creative sector has huge potential for growth, and Backstage will contribute directly to our vision for a borough where growth is people-centred, community-led and environmentally sustainable”