Comedy caper A Leap In The Dark will receive its stage premiere at the New Vic Theatre this February and will celebrate the centenary of the UK’s first ever radio play being broadcast.
Originally commissioned by BBC Radio Four, A Leap In The Dark, written by Emmy award-winning writer Ron Hutchinson, will have its stage premiere at the New Vic Theatre this from Friday, 9 February to Saturday, 2 March.
This sophisticated comedy caper celebrates the 100th anniversary of the UK’s first ever radio play and charts the (almost) true story of how radio plays came to be.
Cedric Maud’s a man with a plan. He and his assistant Grace believe a play made specially for the wireless could be just the thing to entertain listeners and put the newly formed BBC on the map.
With the broadcast date fast approaching, they ask an impresario with a reputation for producing ‘avant-garde’ theatre to direct the programme. He’s not sure how a play could work without a set and costumes and with the audience unable to see the actors, but he knows he’s not letting the job go to that upstart Noël Coward. So, supported by his wife’s unique brand of guidance, he sets to work. Will they be able to find a writer willing to take the job? Will the actors be able to hold the listeners attention with only their voices? And how will audiences know what on earth is going on?
Cast
A Leap In The Dark’s cast of eight includes faces familiar and new to the New Vic including Suzanne Ahmet (Marvellous, New Vic and @sohoplace, Around the World in 80 Days, New Vic and Royal Exchange Manchester, UK tour) as May Playfair; Angela Bain (The D Road, Claybody Theatre, Inherit The Wind, I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire, New Vic) as Lady Hartley/Mrs Stanley; Madeleine Leslay (The Archers, BBC Radio 4, The Mousetrap, West End) as Rita Hartley/Madge/Danish Actress; Alyce Liburd (Song of the Sytch, Claybody Theatre, The Great Gatsby, Grosvenor Open Air Theatre Chester) as Grace; Perry Moore (Tom, Dick and Harry, New Vic and Alexandra Palace, Marvellous, New Vic and @sohoplace) as Cedric Maud; Ben Norris (The Archers, BBC Radio 4, The Choir of Man, West End) as Richard Hughes/Hector; Robert Pickavance (A View From the Bridge, York Theatre Royal and Royal & Derngate Northampton, The Grand Gesture, The Canterbury Tales, Northern Broadsides) as Mr Bigsby/Mr Billingsby/Jimmy/Commissionaire; and Andrew Pollard (Tom, Dick and Harry, New Vic and Alexandra Palace, Around the World in 80 Days, New Vic, UK tour, Broadway and Asolo Rep, Florida) as Nigel Playfair.
Creatives
Director Caroline Wilkes* | Pre-production Development Gwenda Hughes | Designer Lis Evans | Lighting & Projection Designer Daniella Beattie | Composer & Sound Designer Oliver Vibrans | Choreographer Beverley Norris-Edmunds | Casting Director Anji Carroll CDG | Assistant Director Mandeep Glover | Company Stage Manager Steve Hall | Deputy Stage Manager Lisa Mellor | Assistant Stage Manager Jacob Anderson.
*Due to illness, Caroline Wilkes replaces Gwenda Hughes to direct this production.
How much do the tickets to A Leap In The Dark cost?
Tickets are on sale now, priced from £10 to £30.50. Opening Night: Fri 9 February – All seats £10.00 (no cons)
Concessions: £2.00 off
Group Discounts: £2.00 off for ten or more
Four Friends for £92
Under 16s Go Free
Under 26s Go Free
How do I book tickets to watch A Leap In The Dark?
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?
A Leap In The Dark will open at the New Vic Theatre on Friday, 9 February and will run until Saturday, 2 March 2024 with evening shows at 7.30pm and Matinee at 2.15pm. There will be no performances on 11, 14, 18, 19, 25 and 26 February. Please check New Vic’s website for full schedule details/.
Interpreted Performances:
Captioned: Tue 27 February, 7.30pm
Audio described: Sat 2 March, 2.15pm
Where is New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme?
New Vic Theatre
Etruria Road
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Staffordshire
ST5 0JG
The theatre has a large car park, with a £2 charge on show days. Only contactless card payment is currently accepted for parking charges.
The theatre café is open 10am to 3pm, Monday to Saturday – then from 5.30pm for pre-show meals.
Booking is required for pre-show meals 5.30pm onwards, via their booking system at this link.
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.
About Arts Council England
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. By 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help deliver this vision.
Keeping you safe
To help you enjoy your visit, the New Vic has put measures in place to help all visitors feel as comfortable as possible:
- Please feel free to wear a face covering while at the New Vic, when walking around the venue and during the performance.
- They ask all guests to be mindful of fellow audience members when at the theatre, who may prefer to continue to keep a distance from other theatregoers while in their spaces.
- They have hand sanitiser stations positioned around the theatre, free to use by all. They are maintaining their high levels of cleanliness throughout the building, ensuring all spaces and contact surfaces are regularly sanitised.
Feeling unwell? If you, or a member of your party, are exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 prior to your visit, they politely ask you do not attend the theatre. If this is the case, please speak to a member of their box office team who will be able to talk you through options to exchange your tickets.
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Photo Credit: New Vic Theatre
