The Bristol Old Vic Theatre Prepares For It's 250th Anniversary

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - MAY 24: The cast including Timothy West (pictured) of King Lear, which is a highlight of the Bristol Old Vic's 250th anniversary season, rehearse in a studio at the theatre, on May 24, 2016 in Bristol, England. The Bristol Old Vic, which is the oldest continuously-working theatre in the country, is currently preparing to celebrate its 250th anniversary this May Bank Holiday weekend with a series of events planned over the three days. Since the theatre's opening production in 1766, when it was operating illegally as it didn't have a Royal Patent, some of the biggest names in the acting world have performed on the stage including Sarah Siddons, Peter O'Toole, Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Brian Blessed, Olivia Colman, Jeremy Irons, Patrick Stewart and Judi Dench. Over the past 250 years the building, which has survived rioting in the 19th century and bombing in World War II and nearly became a banana ripening warehouse after it was sold at auction in 1942, has been renovated and adapted several times and later this year a multi-million pound redevelopment will transform the theatre once again. The theatre's production of King Lear, a collaboration with Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and stars Timothy West, Stephanie Cole and David Hargreaves, runs at Bristol Old Vic from June 18. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)