The New Vic Theatre will co-produce a heart-warming quirky comedy, a classic drama about a brass band, and a story filled with magical moments, devilish encounters and spellbinding music this summer. The theatre will also venture stateside for its first international tour as its acclaimed production of Around The World In 80 Days heads to New York’s Broadway with co-producers Kenny Wax Family Entertainment.
Opening the season, the New Vic partners with the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, to produce Charlotte Jones’ wonderfully compelling Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis from Thursday 2 to Saturday 18 May. A quirky comedy about learning to love who you are, the production will be directed by Gemma Fairlie (Romeo and Juliet, Orange Tree Theatre; Beryl, New Vic Theatre).
From Saturday 1 to Saturday 22 June, Conrad Nelson (Much Ado About Nothing, New Vic Theatre/Northern Broadsides) directs Brassed Off. A play by Paul Allen adapted from the screenplay by Mark Herman, this heart-warming story follows the troubles of a mining community whose Pit is on the brink of closure. With only the Colliery Brass Band keeping spirits up, this is a story about community spirit and triumph in the face of adversity, and features rousing live music played by TCTC Group Champion Brass Band.
From Friday 28 June to Saturday 13 July, the New Vic stages David Greig’s The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart. Directed by Anna Marsland (Resident Director on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, National Theatre), the play tells the tale of cautious academic Prudencia Hart, who sets off to snowy Scotland for a conference but soon finds herself at the edge of reality…
Completing the summer season a whole host of one-night events will visit the theatre-in-the-round including Liza Pulman sings Streisand, comedian Gary Delaney and The Big Chris Barber Band, before David Graham Productions returns to the New Vic from Monday 19 – Saturday 31 August with A Comedy of Eric’s. Blackadder meets Carry On as Eric and the gang travel back in time to meet Uncle Eric’s ancestor in this comedy filled with the greatest hits of the 1960s!
Finally, alongside the productions at their home in Newcastle-under-Lyme, the theatre is set to light up New York’s theatre district as its hit production Around The World In 80 Days heads to Broadway. On tour in the USA from May until June with co-producers Kenny Wax Family Entertainment, this will be the New Vic’s first ever international tour. New Vic’s Artistic Director Theresa Heskins has reassembled the cast of the theatre’s most recent version of Jules Verne’s epic, action-packed caper to delight New York audiences before heading down the coast to share with audiences in Florida.