One of the UK’s most successful playwrights, Alan Ayckbourn, scrutinizes the consequences of artificial intelligence in his 89th play, Constant Companions takes to stage at the New Vic Theatre this October.
A Stephen Joseph Theatre production, the play is about Lorraine, a fabulously successful lawyer of a certain age and Jan, Sixty is the janitor of her building, an android of indeterminate age. In a not-too-distant future where humans have turned to artificial friends for companionship without compromise, can Lorraine and Jan find true love?
In Constant Companions, Alan Ayckbourn weaves together their stories and those of lonely bachelor Don, technician Winston, PA Sylvia and android maid Edie with characteristic humour and compassion.
Cast
Georgia Burnell as Sylvia, Andy Cryer as Don, Tanya-Loretta Dee as Andrea, Alexandra Mathie as Lorraine, Naomi Petersen as ED, Richard Stacey as JAN 60 and Leigh Symonds as Winston.
Creative Team
Writer and Director Alan Ayckbourn | Set and Costume Design Kevin Jenkins | Lighting Design Mark ‘Tigger’ Johnson | Associate Sound Design Ernest Acquah | Casting Sarah Hughes CDG | Wardrobe Supervisor Julia Perry-Mook | Scenic Artist Rich Marr
How much do the tickets to Constant Companions cost?
Tickets are on sale now, priced from £10 to £30.50.
Part of our Three Plays for £72 package
Group Discounts: £2.00 off for ten or more
Four Friends for £92
Under 16s Go Free
Under 26s Go Free
Opening Night: Tue 24 October – All seats £10.00 (no cons)
How do I book tickets to watch Constant Companions?
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?
Constant Companions will open at the New Vic Theatre on Tuesday, 24 October and will run until Saturday, 4 November 2023 with evening shows at 7.30pm and Matinee at 2.15pm on Thursdays and Saturdays.
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.
About Stephen Joseph Theatre
The Stephen Joseph Theatre is an independent theatre and cinema based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Their home is a beautifully-restored 1930s Odeon cinema, home to our famous theatre-in-the-round which was the first of its kind in the world. The Round provides a truly unique experience as the audience is seated all around the stage. Not only does the audience see the performance from every angle, it also brings the actor into the same space as the audience.
About Alan Ayckbourn
Alan Ayckbourn became the first British playwright to receive both Olivier and Tony Special Lifetime Achievement Awards. Constant Companions brings together the characteristic humour and compassion Ayckbourn is known for to create a thought-provoking and entertaining show which says so much about both the present and the future.
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.
You may also want to read this:
Review: Eric’s Italian Job at the New Vic Theatre
Review: Ladies’s Day at New Vic Theatre
Review: Ayckbourn’s Family Album at New Vic Theatre
Photo Credit: New Vic Theatre/Tony Bartholomew
