The Young Vic opened in 1970, and was the National Theatre's first residence, producing affordable high-quality shows. It was rebuilt from 2004-2006.
The Young Vic Theatre was founded as a venue for world-premiere productions along with unexpected takes on classic plays that are relevant to our present. The theatre began its life as an offshoot of the Old Vic - which was the first home of the Royal National Theatre.
Royal National Theatre Associate Director Frank Dunlop led the company with an ambition to create a new kind of theatre in London for a different generation - a theatre that was classless, unconventional, open, circus-like, and affordable. Dunlop took inspiration from influential French actor and director Jean Vilar, who believed that live theatre should be as indispensable to life as wine and bread. The Young Vic was therefore conceived and classed as a 'paperback' theatre, where high-quality work would be showcased and made available to everyone at low cost.
Recent revivals at the theatre include Marianne Elliott and Miranda Cromwell’s Death of A Salesman starring Wendell Pierce and Sharon D. Clarke, and Simon Stone's Yerma starring Billie Piper.