‘The Old Vic Youth Theatre’ was created in the late 1970’s as an acting company for teenagers between the ages of 12 and 19 who lived mainly in the London Borough of Southwark or within close proximity of The Old Vic Theatre on The Cut in Waterloo, London SE1. 

The company’s founders were collaborators of The Old Vic itself, the nearby Morley College on Westminster Bridge Road, the Southbank Education Institute on the river and the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA). 

The company lasted until the early 1980’s and ceased to exist after ILEA was abolished. In the years it enjoyed success to sell out performances, mainly at the Old Vic and various venues including The Emma Cons Hall, The George Inn Courtyard, The Jeanetta Cochrane Theatre and The Lyric Hammersmith, the company comprised of two groups; one performing a well known scripted play and the other devised a play through improvisation, thus, two plays were produced each year by a young company that was highly talented, reputable and a phenomenal triumph as many of its members went on to carve out successful and fulfilling careers within the creative arts industry. Some are now quite well known!

Up until recently, very little if anything at all, was known of The Old Vic Youth Theatre as evidence was either not archived, not recorded, not photographed or not  passed on. Any documentation including audition reply cards, letters, programs, flyers and photographs of productions have been found with the company’s members who, fortunately, kept them safe for decades afterwards and produced them to each other via email and via THE OLD VIC YOUTH THEATRE! Closed Group Facebook Page. There are 56 original members on the Facebook page, some are not on Facebook, some are yet to be found.

In February 2016 many members of The Old Vic Youth Theatre enjoyed a re-union in The Old Vic rehearsal room, which evoked memories, and to celebrate the 80th birthday of one of its directors, Valerie Colgan.

More information about The Old Vic Youth Theatre including its directors, productions and alumni can be found on Wikipedia under the page Old Vic Theatre.