Rupert Goold will become Artistic Director of the Old Vic in 2026; Rebecca Frecknall named associate director

From the perspective of someone living in the United States, this seems to me like a lateral move going from Almeida to Old Vic, but change is good!

https://playbill.com/article/rupert-goold-will-take-the-helm-of-londons-old-vic-in-2026

hyangsoo said: "The Old Vic is a bigger theatre at over 1000 seats and one of the oldest and most historic. I believe it's definitely a great move for him."

Yeah, it's some 200 years old -- and was the original home of what become the National Theatre. And Matthew Warchus, Kevin Spacey, and Sir Peter Hall were all ADs. 

shirleybolling said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "From the perspective of someone living in the United States, this seems to me like a lateral move going from Almeida to Old Vic, but change is good!

https://playbill.com/article/rupert-goold-will-take-the-helm-of-slope game-londons-old-vic-in-2026"



When will Goold and Frecknall officially begin their roles?"

September 2026.

Rupert has been wanting to play on a bigger stage for years, and the NT job wasn’t going to be his which is the biggie.

Wick3 said: "I wonder if that means the Warchus-directed “A Christmas Carol” playwill end in December 2025? It has done very well every year."

If it generates easy money, I see no reason why it shouldn’t continue on. It’s a good production. A little continuity between Artistic Directors is also never a bad thing, even when an incoming AD wants to make a big statement.

Or perhaps if it doesn’t return *every* year, bring it back every few years.

Do Warchus and Goold have a good relationship? I assume at a minimum there’s mutual respect, if not friendship.