A fantastic mix of one-night concerts, classic plays and contemporary circus will all feature in the New Vic’s 2025 line-up, alongside previously announced productions of the iconic Powell and Pressburger film A Matter of Life and Death, the world premiere of Arthur Berry’s final play Whatever Happened to Phoebe Salt and a new production of Alison Carr’s theatrical ‘pub quiz’, The Last Quiz Night on Earth.
London Classic Theatre will return to Newcastle-under-Lyme in April to present Alan Ayckbourn’s Just Between Ourselves. In this emotionally charged play, London Classic Theatre explore a world of hidden tensions and suppressed hostility in Ayckbourn’s 1976 masterclass in suburban comedy and heartbreak.
The New Vic’s longstanding collaborators – the award-winning contemporary circus company Upswing – visit the theatre from Thursday 8 – Saturday 10 May with their thrilling production, Showdown. Part talent show, part beauty contest Showdown sees six extraordinary acrobats battle it out Hunger Games-style to reach the top and win the all-important audience vote. Through sharp comedy, extraordinary circus action and irreverent humour, the show unpacks the complexity of the unwritten rules of the social games we all play.
New Vic Borderlines will stage a brand new play, Voices From, to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (Mon 27 January) for a performance that will share moving stories of reflection and responsibility. Then in March, The Miner Birds by Lisa Blower returns to the theatre, telling the story of the women mobilised during the 1984 Miner’s Strike and their determination to continue fighting for their communities to this day.
Throughout the year, the theatre-in-the-round will also host a series of one-night events to entertain audiences.
An incredible array of musicians will visit throughout the season including: The Pasadena Orchestra, re-creating the sounds of a golden era of music from the 1920s and 1930s on Wednesday 8 January; in conjunction with Keele Concerts, United Strings of Europe will celebrate diversity and bridge cultural divides on Wednesday 15 January with a concert full of unique musical arrangements from a variety of cultures. Cloudbusting: The Kate Bush Songbook returns to the stage on Wednesday 22 January before The Bluejays bring back the sounds of rock ‘n’ roll on Wednesday 29 January. Then Fairport Convention return on Wednesday 12 February and Paul Jones and Dave Kelly, former members of The Blues Band, perform their new live acoustic set on Monday 17 February.
10CC’s Graham Gouldman makes his solo debut on the New Vic stage with his semi-acoustic four-piece band Heart Full Of Song performing a broad range of his song-writing catalogue on Saturday 8 March; Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders return on Tuesday 11 March and audiences can witness history in the making as Rick Butler, The Jam’s legendary drummer, recalls past memories and music on Friday 14 March.
Traditional musicians Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham then take to the stage on Wednesday 2 April and 80s pop legends Hue & Cry will bring an incredible live performance to the stage on Monday 7 April. Acceler8 Band (who audiences will remember from their performance in the New Vic production of Brassed Off a few years ago) appear on Friday 25 April; China Crisis stop off as part of their Y Stop Now tour on Monday 19 May and Buddy Holly and The Cricketers celebrate all Holly’s greatest hits on Monday 14 July.
The New Vic will also host some of the best comedians on the circuit throughout the year including Daliso Chaponda, who returns with a brand-new show, Feed This Black Man Again on Thursday 30 January; Radio 4 favourite John Shuttleworth on Monday 24 February; Zoe Lyons – host of BBC’s Lightning and regular on Have I Got News For You, QI and Mock The Week – brings her show Werewolf to the stage on Monday 3 March and Radio 4’s Milton Jones presents HA!Milton, a whole new show of daftness on Saturday 15 March.
To celebrate Pride month in June, Dahliah Rivers, Blu Romantic and Alanna Boden join host Fatt Butcher in a raucous, wild and tantalizing drag revue show Send in The Clowns – C*ck of Ages on Monday 9 June and Britain’s Got Talent 2024 finalist Alex Mitchell comes to the New Vic with his debut show, Tics Towards Puffection, on Wednesday 4 June, exploring themes of sexuality, neurodiversity and wider society through comedy and self-deprecation.
Completing the New Vic’s programme of events this spring, the awe-inspiring Magical Bones brings their action-packed illusion show Bonefide Magic to the stage on Saturday 26 April; Brian Bilston and Henry Normal will appear together for the first time for an evening of poems to be enjoyed on Monday 12 May and two dance performances, An Evening with The Tap Chaps on Friday 9 March and Giselle by Ballet Cymru on Monday 16 June ensure this jam packed spring season offers something for everyone.
Tickets for the New Vic’s spring season are available now. For more information visit newvictheatre.org.uk or call the Box Office on 01782 717962.