When Bristol’s Theatre Royal, now more commonly known as the Old Vic, was built in 1766, you were not allowed to put on a play without a royal license. And a royal license the Old Vic had not. So the theatre was built hidden from the road and plays used to be performed there illegally, in secret.

In order to get into the Old Vic when it was first built, patrons had to knock on the door of a Mr Foot and tell him they were there for the theatre. Mr Foot then led them through his house, out into the yard and there they would discover the theatre.

That same theatre, once very hidden away, is still hidden away.

As a year-long period of redevelopment at the theatre starts, one of the main aims according to Old Vic artistic director Tom Morris in an interview in today’s Evening Post, is to “bring it out of hiding”.

There is a wall within the Bristol Old Vic building that is roughly the old front wall of the theatre when it used to be at the bottom of Mr Foot’s yard.

During this current stage of restoration, everything behind that wall – the auditorium, rehearsal space, dressing rooms and more – is being spruced up while the front part of the building remains open. When the theatre is reopened, work will then start on the front of house area.

This phase of work is due to be completed by spring 2012, with Bristol Old Vic executive director Emma Stenning saying the master plan is to complete all works in time for the theatre’s 250th birthday in 2016, which “will finally see Bristol Old Vic emerge as an iconic building for the city”.

Stenning said: “Our 2011 works will take our beautiful auditorium, Paintshop and back stage areas out of action for a year whilst we upgrade our technical facilities, improve our dressing rooms, offices and rehearsal rooms and install the new bespoke theatre seats that you’ve been waiting so long for. As you can imagine we’re tremendously excited.”

The total cost to redevelop the Old Vic is £19.29m. To date a total of £10.5m has been raised. So £8.8m is still needed, and everybody is being asked to support the project.

One way of supporting is by sponsoring a seat, with prices ranging from £250 to £5,000. Call Marisa or Emily on 0117 907 2689 or email appeal@bristololdvic.org.uk to find out more.