Review: Show and Tell at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme*

Alan Ayckbourn‘s 90th play, Show and Tell has arrived at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, just as the prolific playwriter celebrates his 80th birthday.

Show and Tell is a comedy about Jack (played by Bill Champion) who is planning a big party for his wife’s birthday. He’s pulling out all the stops and has booked a touring theatre company to perform in the main hall of the family home. The only problem is that Jack is getting a bit forgetful in his old age and can’t remember all the details of the booking.

Meanwhile, the Homelight Theatre Company is on its knees. They desperately need a well-paid gig and Jack’s booking is very well paid. But pinning him down on the details has been tricky and something doesn’t feel quite right. Will Jack pull off the party of a lifetime for his wife or will it all become a complete disaster?

What did I think of the play?

I always love heading to the New Vic to watch their plays as I find the theatre in the round very immersive and almost 3D like, and I feel almost like the being an extended part of the performance.

Having recently watched Ayckbourn’s Constant Companions, I have become a fan of the playwriter and was excited to find out what Show and Tell was all about.

Presented by Stephen Joseph Theatre and directed by the playwriter himself, the play is a nostalgic piece telling the tale of HomeLight Theatre – founded as The Front Room Company in 1962 which draws on Alan’s own memories and experiences of being in a similar small, and financially-stretched company.  Ayckbourn has cleverly intertwined his past wonderfully in this play within a play.

Without giving too much important details away, the play centers around Jack Bothridge (Bill Champion), a former owner of a departmental store. He  plans to throw the party of a lifetime for his wife, Alice but his memory is failing and he is showing signs of dementia hence is confused and delusional.

We next meet Peter Reeder (played by Richard Stacey) who is is an actor but due to limited budget is now also in charge of Marketing. He soon convinces Jack to agree to his company, performing a play in his home as a birthday gift for his wife with an audience of around 30 people.  Paul Kemp plays Ben Wilkes, a former employee of Jack, who is now his sole carer. Kemp plays his part to perfection and is such an endearing character filling in the details for Jack when he has his ‘memory loss’ episode.

Frances Marshall plays Harriet ‘Harry’ Golding and is funny from the moment she enters into character. She has inherited the Homelight Theatre Company from her father and is doing all she can from stopping the company going bust as they are struggling to bring in the crowd post-Covid. Lastly Olivia Woolhouse is introduced in the second half of the show as Steph Tate.

Act One was a little slow moving to my liking but Act Two captivated my attention from the ‘rehearsal’ scene to the actual play which was performed in the Bothridge’s home. I loved how the ‘characters’ all got into character almost immediately and executed their lines to perfection, so much so, that I did not want it to end.  I almost feel a sequel is in need for the play in the play.

Show and Tell is very Ayckbourn in the sense that you will be asking questions during the play then it all makes sense in the end. One of the question I had was, why Jack’s former staff, Ben Wilkes, who used to work in the clothing department is now caring for him despite Jack being constantly rude to him.

Although the play might be hitting home for some, if they have family members experiencing dementia or struggling with getting older, there are lots of funny moments in the play which is entertaining. With Ayckbourn not only writing the play but directing it, the audience are watching his exact vision of a play-within-the-play being acted out on stage.  The audience are also reminded to see the funny side of things as we get on with our daily life.

Cast

Bill Champion MD Jack Bothridge
Paul Kemp Ben Wilkes
Frances Marshall Harriet ‘Harry’ Golding
Richard Stacey Peter Reeder
Olivia Woolhouse Steph Tate

Creative Team

Writer & Dirtector Alan Ayckbourn
Set and Costume Designer Kevin Jenkins
Lighting Designer/Technical Manager Mark ‘Tigger’ Johnson
Associate Sound Designer Ernest Acquah
Wardrobe Supervisor Julia Perry-Mook
Casting Director Sarah Hughes CDG
Production Manager James Thompson (Paternity Cover)
Company Stage Manager  Fleur Linden Beeley
Deputy Stage Manager Sue Volans
Assistant Stage Manager Anna Reid
Scenic Art Julia Wray

How much are the tickets for Show and Tell?

Tickets are on sale now, priced from £10 to £31.50.  

How do I book tickets to watch Show and Tell?

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?

Show and Tell will be running until Saturday, 26 October 2024 with evening shows at 7.30pm and Matinee at 2.15pm (on 17/19/24/26 October).

 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 £2.20 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 and Staffordshire County Council.

About the Stephen Joseph Theatre

Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre has provided world-class accessible theatre for audiences on the Yorkshire coast since 1955.  It’s produced over 700 plays, many of them new – developing new writers and writing was the primary aim of the company’s founder, Stephen Joseph, and it remains one of our core aims. The SJT was the first professional theatre-in-the round in the UK, and is widely known for presenting the world premieres of most of Alan Ayckbourn’s 90 full-length plays. It also has an extensive community programme.

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.

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Photo Credit: New Vic Theatre/Tony Bartholomew