The Bristol Old Vic, which celebrates its 250thanniversary in 2016, has launched a membership scheme for the city’s business community to help secure the future of the theatre for another 250 years.
Called The Twenty Twenty Club, the scheme has already signed up its first member – international property consultants Jones Lang LaSalle, which has its South West regional office in Bristol. 
The club will be made up of an exclusive group of 20 companies who will enjoy a range of benefits in return for their sponsorship. The Old Vic, the country’s longest continually-running theatre, aims to raise £400,000 from the business community through the project.
The scheme has been set up in recognition of the 50 Bristolians who, in 1766, each paid £50 to build the theatre. It will help the Bristol Old Vic complete its final phase of renovation which will include the transformation of Coopers’ Hall into what will be one of the city’s premier venues for business functions.
Head of Jones Lang LaSalle’s Bristol office, Jeremy Richards, said: “Our relationship with the Bristol Old Vic goes back well over 100 years so we are delighted to be playing a part in the future success of this important part of Bristol’s heritage.
“Our own roots go back to 1760, which is around the same time as the theatre was founded, so this is a fitting partnership.
“This latest phase of renovation will be of enormous benefit to the business community and I hope that our commitment will encourage others to join us in this exciting venture.”
Bristol Old Vic director of development Alan Wright said: “It’s not sufficient for arts organisations to expect support from the corporate sector based upon a plea to their conscience, alone. The relationship must be based on mutuality and there has to be a tangible return for any financial support. This was in the forefront of our thinking when we started to consider the redevelopment of the front of house.”
While the theatre itself can be used for corporate hospitality, the refurbished Coopers’ Hall will provide a unique, fully-functional multi-use space that can accommodate any number of events from conferences to AGMs, presentations and celebrations.
Major discounts will be available to the members of the Twenty Twenty Club which, along with the benefits of priority booking, will easily repay the cost of membership over a five-year period.
Club members will also have the opportunity to promote their business internationally when Bristol Old Vic productions travel abroad, as later this year to the US and South-East Asia .
Twenty Twenty Club benefits include:
* 500 tickets a year at a discount of 30%
* 20 free tickets a year
* Company logo featured in all Bristol Old Vic programmes and season’s brochures
* Priority booking on all facilities offered in the newly-refurbished Coopers’ Hall
* A replica of the 1766 silver token given to the theatre’s original 50 backers, which allowed them to attend any performance they liked.
* A seat dedication in the auditorium
* Regular Twenty Twenty members’ events throughout the year
* Acknowledgement of support in new foyer
Any business interested in joining the Twenty Twenty Club should contact Bristol Old Vic’s commercial marketing consultant Vicky Fraser at vfraser@bristololdvic.org.uk or phone 07872 946662
