Brian Blessed OBE
Patron of The Old Rep since October 2018. Brian Blessed visited the venue in October 2018. 60 years after he first arrived in the city to join the Birmingham Repertory Company. Brian was presented with a dedicated seat plaque honouring his remarkable career and connection with this iconic venue. Blessed joined the Birmingham Repertory Company in the late 1950's at The Old Rep (then Birmingham Repertory Theatre) under the tutelage of renowned Director and Theatre Manager Sir Barry Jackson.
BRian Cox CBE
A patron and friend of The Old Rep since April 2015. An Olivier and Emmy award winner, Brian Cox joined The Birmingham Repertory Company in 1966 taking to the stage in Peer Gynt and Othello alongside Alison Key and Michael Gambon. Following his time in Birmingham, Cox spent multiple seasons with both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre during the 1980's-90's. He then went on to star in Braveheart and The Bourne Supremacy. As part of our 105th birthday celebrations Brian had his own seat installed in our auditorium.
Toyah wILLCOX
A patron since March 2018. Toyah Willcox attended The Old Rep Drama School in the 1970’s which later helped shape her acting career. Toyah visited The Old Rep in June 2018 to see her dedicated seat plaque in our auditorium. She explains The Old Rep as:
'A space where true happiness was found'
Annette Badland
Annette Badland has been a patron of The Old Rep since July 2019.
The Olivier and SAG award nominated actress has visited the venue numerous times, when visiting for the first time as patron she said "The Old Rep was so important to me when I first fell in love with theatre and acting... When I was younger I used to enjoy Shakespeare at The Old Rep... I just found it a magical place to be so I used to just come whenever I could"