Meet Bristol Old Vic’s artistic director Nancy Medina
I moved here from New York 16 years ago.
My connection to the city is through my husband. He grew up in Somerset and was working in Bristol a lot as he was very involved in natural history – and Bristol is very much the home of natural history. So, we settled here and had kids. I do think Bristol is a great place to raise a family. Bristol is such a small city, but it’s so full of diversity in so many ways. There are lots of different communities. And there are so many art initiatives that happen here – with graffiti and visual arts, as well as the music scene. It felt like there was a lot going on culturally here, which made it feel like a nice place to settle.
When I want to be entertained, I definitely head to the theatre.
Obviously, Bristol Old Vic! But I love going to see shows in the Tobacco Factory and The Wardrobe theatres. And at the Trinity Centre, too. And then every once in a while, I’ll go to a show when someone performs in a cave! That’s such a Bristol thing to do. Or in the old swimming pool at Eastville Park. I once saw a show in the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which was so cool. There’s so much immersive, site-specific theatre here that keeps it really buzzy. And when I want to be inspired, one of the things I love about Bristol is how close you are to countryside. Just 20 minutes on a bicycle and you can be out in rural environments and convening with nature. Natural areas always inspire me. There’s a lot of beauty around here.
I’m listening to an audiobook, by Oprah Winfrey and Dr Bruce Perry.
It’s called What Happened to You? It’s about reframing the question you ask yourself, ‘What’s wrong with me?’ and instead asking ‘What happened to me?’. It looks at moments of childhood trauma or how we develop our core beliefs when we’re young – then how we take those on into adulthood. I’m always really interested in neurological subjects and neuroplasticity, and how our brains still have the ability to shift our mindset. We’re not stuck in the way we were first programmed as a child.
Joining Bristol Old Vic has been a real point of transition for me.
I was a freelancer for over 20 years before then. Coming into the role I knew I wanted to take my time and be in a place of listening. One of the most fruitful and exciting things for me is being able to look at where the organisation is and create a really clear narrative and path of the direction we want to take. Looking at how we can support artists, support Bristol and support its culture in a world that feels like this is being devalued more and more. Culture is all about who we are. We all need moments of enjoyment together when we not only appreciate someone’s talents and skills – like singing or acting – but also have those really important moments to slow down and reflect, before life just passes us by. Culture and the arts offer these really important things to our human existence.
I think the performance that epitomises my approach to artistic direction at Bristol Old Vic has got to be Choir Boy.
I’m going to be biased, but it’s the show I directed! It’s written by Tarell Alvin McCraney. It was a play I’ve loved for so long and it was one of those events in life where the alchemy of everyone involved and the reception it got was so positive. It was all generated from a place of love and generosity and of feeling inspired. I really mourn that project, I loved being in rehearsals and then seeing audiences having really deep conversations about it after the show. There was such a buzz in the city about it. It felt like it really touched people in significant ways – we had a lot of repeat visitors.
My philosophy on life is really simple.
Just do the right thing. Think about others and try as best as you can to be honest and make decisions with integrity. Because we all make mistakes, we’re all going to fail in some way, but if you’re authentic and trying to do the right thing I think that will always lead you in the right direction.
