The Old Vic series of Shakespeare productions in 1914. The building was damaged in 1940 during air raids and it became a Grade II* listed building in 1951 after it reopened. The Old Vic is the crucible of many of the performing arts companies and theatres in London today. It was the name of a repertory company that was based at the theatre and formed (along with the Chichester Festival Theatre) the core of the National Theatre of Great Britain on its formation in 1963, under Laurence Olivier. The National Theatre remained at the Old Vic until new premises were constructed on the
Michael Elliott (director) Company, based at the Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith) with Elliott appointed assistant artistic director and, although short-lived, the company achieved considerable success with productions of Ibsen's "Brand" (Elliott's professional debut as a director) and "Little Eyolf", plus Georg Büchner's "Danton's Death". The two men supervised a season of plays at the Old Vic in 1961, this time with Elliott as artistic director and Wrede as his assistant. He directed "As You Like It" in Stratford for the RSC with Vanessa Redgrave, "Peer Gynt" for the Old Vic with Leo McKern and "Miss Julie" for the National Theatre with Albert Finney and