Young Vic goes Walkabout with ITV London

At the launch event on Wednesday the Young Vic's artistic director David Lan spoke of the close links between the theatre and the Upper Ground-based TV company and their "powerful common aim: to engage with and speak to many of the communities of London – and especially those of Lambeth and Southwark in which, as critical parts of London's creative industries, we both live."

During the Walkabout season the Young Vic's administrative and creative base will be five spacious rehearsal studios at Kennington Park, made available "pretty much for free" through ITV London's generosity. Of course it helps that Clive Jones, chief executive of the ITV News Group, sits on the Young Vic board.

The Young Vic will take on an exciting challenge as the company sets off on an invigorating journey that will take them to St John's Waterloo for a community opera, a range of theatres around London, on tour in the UK and Europe, and twice to New York.

Another major challenge will be raising the £1.5 million still required to fund the rebuilding. Lan hopes that the US tour will boost the appeal, fronted by Young Vic patron Jude Law.

With the theatre closing this week, staff will spend time stripping building back to bare breeze-blocks and steel before builders arrive on-site in September.