Old Vic launches fundraising appeal

The Old Vic is offering supporters the chance to purchase a seat in the theatre, with takers so far including Anthony Hopkins, Kevin Spacey (a trustee of the theatre), David Suchet and Richard Briers.

The Old Vic's Susannah Gorgeous says: "We have to raise funds to literally stop the roof from falling in, and although we probably need around £3 million for ongoing repairs we hope the seat sales will raise around £400,000. Joan Plowright and her late husband Laurence Olivier both have strong associations with the theatre, which is such a beautiful auditorium that it seemed sensible to utilise its appeal."

The theatre, which has had a turbulant history in recent years, is currently hosting a series of courses and workshops in association with RADA.

The theatre was sold by Canadian businessmen Ed and David Mirvish in 1998, when its fate seemed uncertain. The Old Vic Theatre Trust was formed to save the theatre, which was most recently the host for Matthew Bourne's production of The Car Man.