Featured Image: Rodw/ CC BY-SA 4.0/ Edited for size
Bristol Old Vic has said that it will honour a theatre token that dates back to 1766, which offers unlimited access to shows.
The token, which is one of only 50 to be minted for the original shareholders of the Bristol Old Vic, was auctioned off at Henry Aldridge & Sons auction house in Devizes, Wiltshire.
According to the BBC, Bristol Old Vic said: “We famously uphold our policy for all the tokens that have been authenticated.”
The token, ticket no.35, was expected to fetch between £1,500 (€1,700/$1,800) and £2,500 at the auction.
“If it is indeed authentic, we will honour our policy and provide free tickets to the owner,” added Bristol Old Vic.
Originally known as the Theatre Royal, the venue was built on King Street in Bristol between 1764 and 1766, opening on May 30 that year. The 50 original shareholders each raised £50 (a lot of money at the time) to fund the construction and received one of the silver tokens in return.
The inscription on the front of the token reads “The Proprietor of this Ticket is entitled to the sight of every performance to be exhibited in this house,” and on the back it says “King Street, Bristol Theatre May 30, 1766”.
Ticket no. 35 was given to original proprietor William Jones in 1766.
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