Staffordshire’s New Vic Theatre is to stage the world première of The Grand Babylon Hotel, an adaptation of a story by Stoke author Arnold Bennett, as a centrepiece of the city’s centenary celebrations.
The Newcastle-under-Lyme theatre will also present in 2025 only the second professional outing of a “tender and uplifting” play by Tom Wells, Big Big Sky.
New Vic artistic director Theresa Heskins said, “2025 is a big year for the city of Stoke-on-Trent and what better way to celebrate its rich creative heritage than with two world première productions written by local artists.
“To top off the year Newcastle-under-Lyme’s unique place in circus history will form part of the inspiration for our festive show The Little Mermaid. We look forward to bringing the creative talents of our local cultural heroes to a wider audience.”
Arnold Bennett was best known as a novelist. Between the 1890s and the 1930s he completed 34 novels and seven volumes of short stories as well as 13 plays. He was the most financially successful British author of his day.
Bennett’s “rollicking comedy thriller” The Grand Babylon Hotel will be adapted for the stage by Deborah McAndrew and directed by Conrad Nelson, artistic director of Claybody Theatre. It was previously aired as a radio play. This new adaptation will be the first stage production of Bennett’s play. It will run at the New Vic from Saturday 13 September until Saturday 4 October.
Big Big Sky is a “heart-warming story about family, friendship, love, loss and the natural world” which celebrates the beauty of everyday life and the importance of community. It will be directed by former New Vic resident assistant director Bryn Holding and will run from Friday 4 until Thursday 24 July.
As previously announced, The Little Mermaid will run from Friday 14 November until Saturday 24 January 2026.