Stand-up comedy meets theatre as new play with comedian Rosie Jones explored in New Vic R&D

9th July 2024

Stand-up comedian Rosie Jones explored ideas for a new play with the New Vic Theatre this week.

Rosie is in the process of writing a new play, and alongside the New Vic’s Artistic Director Theresa Heskins as director, Associate Director Caroline Wilkes and Assistant Directors Mandeep Glover and Polly Wain, held a week of Research and Development (R&D) for the idea.

The concept for the show is described as ’stand-up meets theatre’, with Rosie at the centre, and six actors playing scripted scenes to weave a narrative that is slightly different from night to night.

The play will be lively and fun but with serious themes of internalised ableism, self-acceptance, rejection and love in all its complex, messy forms.

Four actors familiar to New Vic audiences were involved in bringing ideas from the R&D week to life, including Suzanne Ahmet (A Leap In the Dark, Marvellous), Gareth Cassidy (Ladies Down Under, The Card), Jessica Dyas (One Man, Two Guvnors, The Card) and Hannah Edwards (Votes for Women, Beryl).

Members of the public were also invited to contribute their ideas, and spent time on Wednesday in a workshop with the team where the actors improvised different scenarios.

Take a look at what happened during some of the R&D below (photos taken by Andrew Billington):

Photo Gallery

Rosie Jones R+D - July 24-11

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