The New Vic Theatre, based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, will delight audiences this November with tales of buried treasure and a 1400-year-old mystery, as the theatre screens the story of the Staffordshire Hoard, in Hoard: Rediscovered.
Hoard: Rediscovered sees the original cast and creative team from its 2015 Staffordshire Hoard Festival reunited for filmed versions of New Vic Artistic Director Theresa Heskins’ documentary-drama Unearthed, and a selection of mini-plays from some of the country’s most talented writers including Isy Suttie, Sara Pascoe and Lemn Sissay, all directed by Gemma Fairlie (Beryl).
In Unearthed, audiences are invited to explore the story of the discovery of an astonishing hoard of gold, found by unsuspecting members of the public in a Staffordshire field, and of the experts who tried to unravel its meanings, before delving into a selection of mini-plays that imagine the characters who the treasure may have belonged to – and why they might have hidden it. Hoard: Rediscovered will be a unique and gripping socially distanced screening at the theatre, full of intrigue, mystery and suspense, all based around a local legend.
Originally developed in conjunction with the National Theatre Studio, the cast and creative team, many who may be familiar to New Vic audiences, includes Romayne Andrews, Suzanne Ahmet, Crystal Condie, Jemma Churchill, David Crellin, Elizabeth Elvin, Paula James, David Kirkbride, Gwawr Loader, Perry Moore, Adam Morris, David Nellist, Bryonie Pritchard, David Semark, and Johnson Willis.
Featuring:
Unearthed, written and directed by Theresa Heskins
Running Time: 45 minutes
Mini Plays, directed by Gemma Fairlie
Out of the Dark: The Hoard Speaks by Alan Garner
The Rime of the Staffordshire Hoard by Gary Longden
Beowulf
Rune by April de Angelis
Magic by Darren Sharp
The Foreigner by Lydia Adetunji
Hoarder by Sara Pascoe
Hwaet! by Tom Wells
Half a Horse by Isy Suttie
Inscribed by Lemn Sissay MBE
My Name is Freda by Samuel Adamson
*A combination of 3 of the above mini-plays will be screened each night, following Unearthed.
Creative Team:
Theresa Heskins Director (Unearthed)
Gemma Fairlie Director (Mini Plays)
Lis Evans Designer (Unearthed)
Mika Handley Designer (Mini Plays)
Daniella Beattie Lighting Designer
James Earls-Davis Sound Designer
Illuminos Projection Design (Unearthed)
James Atherton Composer (Unearthed)
Conrad Nelson Composer (Mini Plays)
Anji Carroll CDG Casting Associate
Junction 15 Filming and Editing
Cast:
Romayne Andrews Simon/Tony/Beowulf
Suzanne Ahmet Jen/UK News/PAC/Foreigner
Crystal Condie Caroline/PAC/Rune
Jemma Churchill Deb/My Name Is Freda
David Crellin Jim/PAC/Out of the Dark
Elizabeth Elvin Cathy/Hwaet
Paula James Mandy/UK News/PAC/Half a Horse/Beowulf
David Kirkbride Dave/Matthew/Rime of Staffs Hoard
Gwawr Loader Phoenix/Hoarder
Perry Moore Kevin/Chris/PAC/Out of the Dark
Adam Morris Michael Wood/Out of the Dark
David Nellist Terry/Magic;
Bryonie Pritchard Tree/Inscribed
David Semark Paul/PAC
Johnson Willis Hector/PAC.
How much do the tickets to Hoard: Rediscovered cost?
Tickets for this show include a donation to the New Vic Theatre (Charity Registration Number: 253242). £5.00 of the face value of the £15.00 ticket will be treated as a non-refundable donation, to help the New Vic manage the impact of Coronavirus, in particular the risk of performance cancellations, helping us to ensure we can continue the great work we do.
How do I book tickets to Hoard: Rediscovered?
Tickets are now on sale and available from the Box Office, by calling 01782 717962. or visit the New Vic Theatre’s website here.
How long is the show for and what are the timings?
Hoard: Rediscovered runs for one-week from Saturday, 7 to Saturday, 14 November 2020. Evening performances will be at 7.30pm while the matinee performances will be on both 12 and 14 November at 2.00pm. There will be mo performance on 8 November 2020. Note: A combination of 3 of the mini-plays will be screened each night, following Unearthed.
Where is New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme?
New Vic Theatre
Etruria Road
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Staffordshire
ST5 0JG
About The New Vic Theatre
Founded in 1962, the New Vic is the producing theatre for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. With around eight major productions a year, its varied programme includes contemporary drama, new commissions, adaptations and classics. Recent productions have toured nationally and internationally, and have transferred to London and Manchester. The New Vic has developed extensive and award-winning community involvement. It works regionally, nationally and internationally through its education department and New Vic Borderlines, which aims to change the lives of the most disadvantaged members of the community. The New Vic is funded by Arts Council England, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Things to note:
The New Vic welcomes all customers and is committed to providing access to the arts for all, which includes. Please head to their website to keep up to date with their latest Covid Visitor Information:
- Face Mask – Customers are asked to wear a mask if they are visiting the theatre, with the exception of visitors who will be dining in the cafe.
- Remember to keep a 2m distance for people who aren’t in your household bubble
- On arrival at the theatre, please use their main entrance to access the building. You’ll see they have implemented a one-way system, and ask customers to enter through the right-hand side door, and exit through the opposite door when leaving.
- Sanitisers – There will be sanitiser to use on entry, and other sanitiser stations available for use throughout the building during your visit.
- Cash – In order to minimise surfaces touched by staff and customers, at the current time the theatre will only be accepting payments by card. This applies to all purchases made at Box Office, the Café and their shop.
- Track and Trace – If you are using the café you will be asked to leave your contact details as part of the Track & T
- Parking – Free parking close to the theatre entrance for Blue Badge holders (reserve a space with the box office). Limited parking for customers, a small parking fee for £1.50
- Movement – There is signage in place to let you know where to go next – if you’re heading to Box Office, please join the queuing system and one of their friendly team will call you to the counter when they are available. They have put new screens up on the counter so we can keep you and their team safe.
- Automatic doors and level access into the foyer, ramped access to the auditorium on the ground floor and lift access to the first floor. Please only use the lift with members of the same household bubble.
- Wheelchair spaces on both the ground and first floor
- Disabled toilets on both levels
- An induction loop system (not available for amplified performances and an infrared-assisted hearing system)
- Baby-changing facilities
- Assistance dogs are welcome and water will be provided (if you wish to take your dog into the auditorium, let the box office know when booking)
You may also want to read this:
Review: The Wind In The Willows at the New Vic Theatre
Review : Intemperance at The New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Review: Brassed Off at New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Photo Credit: New Vic Theatre/Andrew Billington
