[Ad-gifted] A hauntingly beautiful and eloquently compelling performance which acts as a stark reminder of how ecologically fragile we are. Libby Dallimore heads to New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme and reviews for Yeah Lifestyle.
Leaving the theatre feeling as small and insignificant as a grain of sand doesn’t exactly sound appealing, does it? And yet, A Play For The Living In A Time Of Extinction left me feeling like that. This probably isn’t the best opening to a review that is meant to be positive, but this incredible piece of theatre packs a powerful punch and draws your attention to how fleeting and how fragile life is.
In its UK premiere, directed and conceived by Katie Mitchell for Headlong and the Barbican Centre, this innovative production, written by American playwright, Miranda Rose Hall, has been made in collaboration with French choreographer Jérôme Bel and Vidy Theatre and responds to the planet’s crisis in an exciting experiment in sustainability.
In broader terms, the whole ‘touring’ production is moving from theatre to theatre but instead of props or people moving between venues, guidelines are instead passed to local ‘teams’ creating a sort of eco-rely. Within the performance itself, the show moves off-grid and electricity is generated by cyclists on stage. Even the programme is digital, leaving as little of a physical footprint as possible. But the marks left on your soul will last.
Danielle Henry takes centre stage as Naomi – the dramaturg for a fictional theatre company called ZeroOmissions who are addressing climate change through their work. When she’s left on stage alone due to an off-stage incident, the play becomes a conversation between Henry and the audience as she takes us through a brief history of the planet and brings to our attention the major mass extinctions that have taken place throughout history and how human beings are (unknowingly or refusing to acknowledge the fact we are) experiencing the latest wave of mass extinction, and it’s all of our own doing.
Henry gives a powerful, raw performance and is darkly comedic throughout in what can be considered as something of a eulogy for humanity. She is able to bring home the realism of the planet’s predicament and you will sympathise with how helpless she feels when researching and learning more about extinction. Backed by The New Vic Community Choir Company, formed especially for the show, they provide a haunting soundtrack as Naomi’s monologue draws to a close. Wow.
This one-act performance is something everyone should experience, it should be in schools and people should open their eyes to a very real and very serious issue the planet and humanity is set to face if we don’t collectively start protecting the Earth.
Cast
Danielle Henry – Naomi
Creatives at the New Vic
Miranda Rose Hall – Writer
Eleanor Taylor – Director
Lis Evans – Associate Designer
Daniella Beattie – Associate Lighting Designer
Alex Day – Associate Sound Designer
Harry Jukes – Assistant Associate Sound Designer
Ollie Mills – Musical Director
Paul Thorne – Bike Technician
Amy Ball – Casting Director
Ali Fowler – Head of Production
Steve Hall – Company Stage Manager
Lisa Mellor – Deputy Stage Manager
Katie Balmforth – Assistant Stage Manager
Harry Jukes – Performance Technician Concept
Creative Team Writer: Miranda Rose Hall
Director: Katie Mitchell
Design Concept: Moi Tran Original Composer
Sound Designer: Paul Clark
Lighting Design touring concept: Bethany Gupwell
Bicyle Power Specialists: Colin Tonks and Elliot Townsend from Electric Pedals Touring
Production Manager: Kat Ellis
Cyclists Newcastle (Staffs) Tri Club: Julia Bossons, John Braithwaite, John Cottrell, Laurence Edwards, Sandra Edwards, Matt Harper, Michael Howard, Andrew Looms, Rose Marshall, Julia Matheson, Harvey Myatt-Winterton, Joe Myatt-Winterton, Neil Scanlon, Eden Schiller, Catherine Smithson, Catherine Swinnerton, Pete Swinnerton, Chris Walton
The New Vic Community Company Choir: Ollie Mills (MD), Hazel Barlow, Rory Blessington, Robert Cochrane, Oksana Demkiv, Rev Melvyn Harwood, Connie Jandles, Susan Moffat, Ruby Sufi, Joe Wilson, Dianne Yeadon.
When can I watch A Play For The Living In A Time Of Extinction?
A Play For The Living In A Time Of Extinction is running at the New Vic Theatre until Saturday, 24 June, with nightly performances at 7.30pm plus a Saturday 2.15pm matinee. Friday’s 7:30pm show will be a BSL integrated performance.
How much do the tickets to A Play for the Living in a Time of Extinction cost?
Tickets are on sale now, priced from £20.
Under 25s: £15
How do I book tickets to A Play for the Living in a Time of Extinction?
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 Play for the Living in a Time of Extinction will open at the New Vic Theatre on Monday, 19 June and run until Saturday, 24 June 2023 with evening shows at 7.30pm while the matinee shows will be at 2.15pm on Saturday, 24 June.
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 Headlong
Headlong makes theatre with the power to move. Big, exhilarating productions that use the unexpected to connect everyone they reach, right across the nation. Whether a work is old or new, there are always different questions we can ask. So Headlong productions are an invitation: to come and see something in a new way.
Previous Headlong productions include Henry V, Jitney, Corrina, Corrina, Best of Enemies, People, Places & Things, The Nether, 1984 and Enron, and major digital theatre innovations Signal Fires and Unprecedented.
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.
You may also want to read this:
Review: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Adapted for New Vic Theatre
Review: The Ballad of Maria Marten at The New Vic Theatre
Review: Gandeys Circus – Around the World tour stops off at Newcastle-under-Lyme
Photo Credit: New Vic Theatre/Andrew Billington
* We were provided with press tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions are our own.
19 comments
This is an interesting idea for a play. I really love the concept. I’d definitely give it a watch.
So glad to hear that
I love watching plays and usually go to the theatre once a month. This one seems amazing, I can’t wait to watch it.
Agree, A Play for the Living is something so different and unique, one worth watching
What an interesting play, I love the message; ‘reminder of how ecologically fragile we are’. Really gives its audience a deep perspective, many people could use hearing that I think 😉
Yes it does, and reminds us how small we are in this great big world
I have never heard of a play touring in this way – it sounds like a really interesting concept! Thank you so much for sharing this.
No problem at all, it is worth seeing the production
This is my first time hearing of this play, it does sound like a pretty interesting one to see. I like how they get the point and feelings across without a ton of props and visual stimulant’s.
Hope you get the chance to experience it
It sounds like the play covers a serious topic that we also should be thinking about. I like that it’s a comedy to lighten up such a serious topic yet make us think and maybe act too. It certainly is a bit different.
Absolutely, made us all think about how we are living our lives and what changes we can make
A very animated show! Sounds like an interesting storyline and also highly entertaining.
It definitely was very entertaining and thought provoking
I was deeply moved by your review of “A Play for the Living in a Time of Extinction” at New Vic Theatre. It sounds like a powerful and thought-provoking production that effectively highlights the urgency of environmental issues. Your description of the performance and the impact it had on you was captivating. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Thank you for your kind comments, I loved the performance
Sounds like a great play! I wish I lived near to watch it!
It certainly is, just a few more days left of the play at the New Vic. I am sure they will tour after
I love the sound of “A Play for the Living in a Time of Extinction” at the New Vic Theatre. Nothing beats live theatre.