Medina to head Bristol Old Vic
The American-born theatre director Nancy Medina is to be the next artistic director of the Bristol Old Vic, succeeding Tom Morris who is standing down after 12 years.
Medina, who has recently directed work for the National Theatre, Kiln, the Bush and the Young Vic, takes over next spring. She will also be joint chief executive, alongside Charlotte Geeves.
“I have lived in Bristol for 14 years, have grown as a person, as an artist, and I am happily raising my children here” said Medina, who is currently joint artistic director of the Bristol School of Acting. “It will be a great honour to listen, reflect, and engage with the people of Bristol and together imagine what the future of theatre and the arts can be in this shining city of the South West.”
Morris warmly welcomed the appointment. “Nancy is a landmark director at the height of her powers and a visionary creative leader” he said. “Through her own rehearsal rooms and the extraordinary achievement of setting up the Bristol School of Acting, she has established an unmatched reputation in combining radical change with artistic excellence. This combination is precious and rare.
“To survive and flourish over the next decades, British theatre is going to have to change and that will need outstanding leadership. Through this appointment Bristol Old Vic has put itself in the best possible position to be in the vanguard of that process.”