The New Vic kicks off its 2022 with Shakespeare’s As You Like It

The New Vic kicks off its 2022 spring season with Shakespeare’s most musical and much-loved comedy As You Like It, in a co-production with Northern Broadsides this February.

Directed by Northern Broadsides’ Artistic Director Laurie Sansom, the play will see 12 northern actors bringing to life the vivid characters in this bold version of the much-loved comedy before they embark on a national tour.

Beginning the year with a double-celebration, it sees both companies mark milestones – the New Vic theatre company’s 60th and Northern Broadsides’ 30th anniversaries.

As You Like It is set in a stylish but stifling court, where the Duke is all-powerful and brute strength is championed over basic human decency, the high-spirited Rosalind and devoted cousin Celia are no longer welcome. When they escape into the forest in disguise, they bump into the recent object of Rosalind’s affection,

Orlando, leading to an elaborate game of fluid identity where all the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players.

As the seasons’ change in this magical place, normal roles dissolve and assumptions are turned on their head in this celebration of the transformative power of love and the natural world, featuring some of Shakespeare’s most vivid characters and memorable poetry, brought to life with an original set and high fashion costumes by E.M. Parry.

The New Vic kicks off its 2022 Spring Season with Shakespeare’s As You Like It

Cast Details

Featuring 12 fabulous Northern actors including non-binary and disabled performers, the As You Like It cast includes Bailey Brook (The Monster, New National Theatre Tokyo) as Silvius/Charles; Isobel Coward (Nicer Than Orange Squash, Leeds Playhouse) as Celia; Shaban Dar (Brink, Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester) as Orlando; Gemma Dobson (A Taste of Honey, National Theatre Tour and Oldham Coliseum) as Phoebe; Terri Jade Donovan (Julius Caesar, Lir Academy) as Audrey; Ali Gadema (A Museum in Baghdad, Royal Shakespeare Company) as Duke Frederick/Duke Senior; Claire Hackett (Quality Street, Northern Broadsides) as Adam/Corin; Reuben Johnson (The Teacher, Channel 5) as Oliver; Adam Kashmiry (Adam, the National Theatre of Scotland) as Jacques, Joe Morrow (Seussical, Arts Theatre London) as Touchstone; Jo Patmore (Frost Hollow Hall, East Riding Theatre) as Amiens/William and EM Williams (Dream, Royal Shakespeare Company) as Rosalind.

How much do the tickets to As You Like It cost?

Tickets are on sale now, priced from £18.50 – £27.50. 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 them to ensure they can continue the great work they do.

How do I book tickets to As You Like It?

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?

The show starts on Friday, 4 until Saturday, 26 February 2022 with evening shows at 7.30pm and matinee shows at 2.15pm on some days. There will also be interpreted, audio described, relaxed and captioned performances on certain dates. Please check New Vic’s website for the date and times.

Where is New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme?

New Vic Theatre
Etruria Road
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Staffordshire
ST5 0JG

The New Vic kicks off its 2022 Spring Season with Shakespeare’s As You Like It

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 Northern Broadsides

Touring theatre company based in Halifax, UK. Celebrating the multiplicity of Northern voices through Shakespeare, classics & new writing. We make bold, radical and accessible productions of classic and new plays that both reflect the diversity and multiplicity of voices in the north, and act as a catalyst for change throughout the region.

They place participation and artist development at their heart to make the work accessible to a broader demographic and nurture a greater diversity of voices on their stages. Each of their productions is made with a ‘creation squad’; a community to whom the piece is relevant to; but also people who would not usually engage in creating theatre. Quality Street is the beginning of a commitment to co-creating all of their work with local communities. This new model will transform the stories they tell together, re-invent how they make popular productions of classic plays and discover a new generation of northern artists. Their celebration of the diversity of the Northern voice makes them stand apart.

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)