The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School was opened in 1946 by Laurence Olivier as a training school for the Bristol Old Vic Company. It initially began its life in one room in a beautiful though cramped building behind the Bristol Old Vic stage door. It was affectionately then known as the ’fruit school’ as it was close to the fruit and vegetable markets, which surrounded the theatre.

In 1954, Dorothy Reynolds and Julian Slade wrote for the Theatre School, the musical Salad Days. It went on to achieve enormous though totally unexpected success, with extended runs both in the West End and on Broadway. The show gave the Theatre School the much-needed funds to move to bigger premises in Downside Road - the School's current site. The building was officially opened in 1956 by Dame Sybil Thorndike.

In 2003 the reputation and work of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School was recognised by the government when it was invited to join a new scheme designed to provide secure funding for students. The Conservatoire of Dance and Drama invited the School along with RADA, the London Contemporary Dance School and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance to be a founder member ensuring the Theatre School can take the most talented students regardless of their own personal financial circumstances.

Conservatoire for Dance & Drama

A Government initiative to secure the future of conservatoire-level dance and drama.

The School is a part of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama, an exciting new Government initiative to secure the future of conservatoire-level dance and drama vocational training in Britain, enabling the most talented students to gain access and benefit, irrespective of background or financial circumstances.

The CDD schools are:

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Central School of Ballet
Circus Space
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA)
London Contemporary Dance School
Northern School of Contemporary Dance
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)
Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance

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