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The two-times Academy Award winner took over as artistic
director in 2003 and is widely credited with helping turn around
the once struggling theater.
Sunday night's gala was hosted by "Downton Abbey" actor Hugh
Bonneville who praised Spacey's work at the theater.
"Not only has he brought his own stage talent as an actor to The
Old Vic and given it that bit of Hollywood glamor, if you like,
because he is such an amazing stage, as well as screen, actor,
but he's really dug the roots of The Old Vic deeper than they
were before," he said on the red carpet.
"They've brought actors from America, actors from Britain
together and have spread that stage talent all over the world,
so where do you start? He can do everything. And he can play the
harmonica."
Spacey, 55, has starred in nine productions at the theater,
including the critically acclaimed "Richard III".
"What Kevin's done is literally made a massive difference to
what was an old building that, actually, nobody came to," Sally
Greene, The Old Vic Chief Executive, said.
The star of "The Usual Suspects", "American Beauty" and Netflix
political thriller "House of Cards" won a Special Award at the
London theater Olivier Awards this month in acknowledgement of
his work at The Old Vic.
The theater, which opened in 1818 and has seen a host of names
such as Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud and Peggy Ashcroft
perform on its stage, has appointed theater director Matthew
Warchus as Spacey's successor.
(Reporting by Joel Flynn; Writing by Joel Flynn and Marie-Louise
Gumuchian; Editing by Dominic Evans)
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