A production that celebrates 100 years of the radio play, the sequel to an Amanda Whittington comedy and a reimagining of a classic fairy tale are the main attractions at Newcastle-under-Lyme’s New Vic in spring and summer 2024.
The theatre’s artistic director Theresa Heskins said, “2024 marks 100 years since the first radio play was commissioned for broadcast. At the time, the BBC had just come into being and this was a totally new prospect—a play where you would only hear the actors’ voices and some sound effects.
“Ron Hutchinson’s play A Leap in the Dark tells the story of how this art form came into being. For this production, he’s worked with director Gwenda Hughes to create a really wonderful comedy that’s fast-paced and hilarious. It will also be a really fantastic homage to the creation of this art form that we know is loved by audiences all over the world.”
The stage première of A Leap in the Dark will run from Friday 9 February until Saturday 2 March.
The sequel to Amanda Whittington’s Ladies’ Day about four women who work in a fish factory in Hull, Ladies Down Under picks up the action after the quartet’s big win at the races as they jet off on the adventure of a lifetime to Australia. Marieke Audsley will direct the play which will run from Friday 8 until Saturday 30 March.
Heskins added, “I’m looking forward to collaborating with Upswing and the Unicorn Theatre on The Princess and The Pea. We’re continuing to develop our programme of circus theatre work and we’re looking for new ways we can push the boundaries of how we combine these two art forms. For this play we need to navigate how to tell the story to families and young children, and how we create a massive tower out of mattresses!”
The show will bring Hans Christian Andersen’s story to life for anyone aged two and above. It will run at the New Vic from Wednesday 19 until Saturday 29 June.