A new production of Maxine Peake’s first play Beryl, a “warm and witty” celebration of the life of sporting legend Beryl Burton, is to ride into the New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Beryl Burton was a working-class mum from Leeds who cycled her way into the record books. After a serious illness as a child, she was told to avoid exercise. Then she met keen young cyclist Charlie Burton and found herself smitten—not only with Charlie but also with the thrill and freedom she found on her bike.
She dominated cycling throughout the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, becoming world champion five times and best British all-rounder for 25 consecutive years.
Gemma Fairlie directs. Beryl features Hannah Edwards, last seen at the New Vic as Nancy Knight in Amanda Whittington’s Kiss Me Quickstep in 2016, Robin Simpson, Lucy Tuck and Rob Witcomb who was in the 2016 UK tour of The 39 Steps.
Beryl runs at the New Vic from Friday 3 March until Saturday 18 March. Press night will be Tuesday 7 March. It then tours to the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough from Tuesday 21 until Saturday 25 March.