The Old Vic and Laurence Olivier as its stars, performing mainly at the New Theatre (now the Noël Coward Theatre) until the Old Vic was ready to reopen in 1950. In 1946, an offshoot of the company was established in Bristol as the Bristol Old Vic. In 1963, the Old Vic company was dissolved and the new National Theatre Company, under the artistic direction of Lord Olivier, was based at the Old Vic until its own building was opened on the South Bank near Waterloo Bridge in 1976. In July 1974 the Old Vic presented a rock concert for the first time. National
Neil McPherson (artistic director) Neil McPherson (artistic director) Neil McPherson (born London, 7 October 1969) is a Artistic Director and playwright. He was Artistic Director of the New End Theatre, Hampstead, from 1996–1997, and has been the Artistic Director of the Finborough Theatre, London, since January 1999. He was named one of The Hospital Club 100 by "Time Out" and The Hospital Club in 2012. He has produced over two hundred productions and co-productions with his production company Concordance. He trained as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama and was a member of the National Youth Theatre for seven years.