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New Vic Looks To The Future With Support From Denise Coates Foundation

The New Vic Theatre has welcomed the backing of the Denise Coates Foundation for its vision for the local theatre to be one of the top ten reasons to live and work in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire.  The Denise Coates Foundation will support the New Vic with a grant of £2.5 million, split across a five year period, with an aim to boost the theatre’s ambition to make sure that local people have access to the highest quality theatre and theatre-making regardless of their personal circumstances so that more people are able to experience and engage in the arts on…

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Quality Street: New Vic Review

The wonderful setting of The New Vic Theatre transports the audience back to the 19th century for the latest production, which is a revival of J.M. Barrie's Quality Street by Northern Broadsides. The story, set in the Napoleonic war era, follows sisters Phoebe and Susan Throssel who live on Quality Street. Susan and their neighbours, the Willoughby's (Mary and Fanny), seem to have resigned themselves to being eternal spinsters, however "Phoebe of the ringlets" as she is known, is eagerly awaiting Doctor Valentine Brown to make a proposal. Sadly when she believes the time has finally come, his announcement isn't…

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Landmark Play “Abigail’s Party” Served Up On New Vic Stage

London Classic Theatre present Mike Leigh’s ruthless and achingly funny examination of 1970s British life at the New Vic this April. It was 1977, the year of skin-tight polyester, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and Saturday Night Fever. The Sex Pistols were storming up the charts, skateboarding was the latest craze and Angela Rippon danced with Morecambe & Wise. And Mike Leigh and his cast were putting the finishing touches to Abigail’s Party, the ferocious black comedy that became a true landmark of twentieth-century theatre. Taking to the New Vic stage from Wednesday 5 to Saturday 15 April, Abigail’s Party follows…

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Review: The Bodyguard at The Regent

Photo Credit Paul Coltas Another Hollywood blockbuster hits The Regent this week in the form of 'The Bodyguard'. The 1992 smash hit starred Whitney Houston as vocal superstar Rachel Marron whose team engage bodyguard Frank Farmer (Kevin Costner) after a series of unsavoury letters lead them to the inevitable conclusion that the star has a dangerous stalker. The film showcased the vocal talents of Houston and included some memorable numbers including 'Run To You', 'I Have Nothing' and the unforgettable 'I Will Always Love You'. The stage play stays true to the film script and the storyline follows the hectic…

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Review: Shawshank Redemption At The Regent

Starting a week of back-to-back Hollywood blockbusters at The Regent, Shawshank Redemption began life as a 1982 novella by Steven King 'Rita Hayworth And The Shawshank Redemption' which was then the basis of the 1994 blockbuster film and has now been once again transformed wonderfully to the stage. Those familiar with the Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins depiction, will find this a slightly different fare. Adapted by Owen O'Neill and Dave Johns, the stage play traverses its own path and develops the other characters far more than the screen version, whilst staying loyal to the storyline and major themes. The…

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Blood Brothers Tour Comes To The Lyceum

Bill Kenwright's legendary, award-winning production of the international smash hit musical, Blood Brothers returns to the stage for a 14-week tour from 17 January. The much-loved musical, performed to sell out houses on its recent UK tour and returns with gusto, touring from 17 January – 29 April 2023. Niki Colwell Evans and Sean Jones continue to star in the iconic roles of Mrs Johnstone and Mickey Johnstone, while Rebecca Storm plays Mrs Johnstone in Dublin and Londonderry across January and February. Niki Colwell Evans first rose to fame in 2007 when she reached the semi-final of series 4 of The X Factor UK mentored by Louis Walsh. After her…

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Pretty Woman Coming To Regent In July

The producers of the smash hit PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL are delighted to announce that the show will embark on a UK and Ireland Tour and will visit the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent fromMonday 15 to Saturday 20 July 2024. The West End production continues to play at theSavoy Theatre where it is currently booking until 11 June 2023. Big night out. Big. HUGE. PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL is Hollywood’s ultimate rom-com, live on stage. Once upon a time in the late ’80s, Vivian met Edward and her life changed forever. Be swept up in their romance in this dazzlingly theatrical take on a love story for the ages…

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New Vic Review: Ladies’ Day

Photo credit: Andrew BillingtonAmanda Whittington's comedy/drama 'Ladies' Day' makes its way to New Vic theatre, with all the glitz and style of a day at the races. Four work colleagues from a Yorkshire fish-filleting line, Pearl, Jan, Shelly and Linda swap their gloves and apron, for dresses and fascinators as they head off to Royal Ascot. Originally written in 2005 when Royal Ascot did temporarily move itself to York, the play isn't a fish-out-of-water storyline (pun fully intended!) but a focus on the personal trials and tribulations of the four main characters. Take away the workday routine and you see…

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Jools Holland Returns To Victoria Hall In November

Musical maestro Jools Holland and his revered Rhythm & Blues Orchestra have today announced the run of dates and special guests of their 2023 Autumn/Winter UK tour. The tour will come to the Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent on Thu 16 Nov 2023. Renowned as one of the UK’s most popular tours, this year the show will feature The Selecter’s Pauline Black and Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson as special guests. Pauline Black and Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson are no strangers to Jools and the orchestra, having joined them for a memorable tour in 2016. The duo are founding members of the influential Coventry based two-tone band and ska pioneers The Selecter. Their debut album ‘Too Much Pressure’,…

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Regent: Jodie Prenger To Star As ‘Miss Hannigan’ In Annie

Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce that, in a change to previously announced casting, Jodie Prenger will star as ‘Miss Hannigan’ in the UK and Ireland Tour of their smash hit production of the musical ANNIE, heading to the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent from Monday 8 – Saturday 13 May 2023. Jodie Prenger recently joined ITV’s Coronation Street as Glenda Shuttleworth. Her West End credits include A Taste of Honey at the Trafalgar Studios. Oliver! at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, One Man Two Guvnors at Theatre Royal Haymarket and Spamalot at the Playhouse Theatre. On tour she has appeared in Abigail’s Party, Shirley Valentine, Annie, Fat Friends, Tell Me on A Sunday and Calamity Jane. On television she has appeared in the BBC’s Shakespeare &…

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