Drinking the 'poisoned cup' of the Old Vic
After some early failures, Kevin Spacey has programmed successful, epic plays for the Old Vic's grand theatre, built a new space for smaller productions (in the old Victorian tunnels underneath Waterloo Station), and nurtured new talent via the Old Vic's New Voices program. He is currently starring as Richard III.
The Old Vic has had several dramatic incarnations, and name changes, but Shakespeare has been performed on its boards since 1824.