Celebrity castings can help theatres in hard times, says new head of Bristol Old Vic

Big names can attract audiences as venues struggle with fallout from pandemic, austerity and high costs, Rebecca Dawson says

Casting big stars in stage productions is sometimes needed because theatre is in an undeniably challenging" moment and must compete with streaming services for people's time and money, the incoming director of the Bristol Old Vic has said.

Rebecca Dawson will start as executive director and joint chief executive on 6 January, leading the oldest continually operating theatre in the English-speaking world into its 260th anniversary year.