It’s a work of BEAUTY!
IT’S A TALE AS OLD AS TIME... BUT THE NEW VIC IS PUTTING ON BEAUTY AND THE BEAST IN ITS OWN STYLE, REPORTS BECKY LOTON...
AUDIENCES are back at the theatre this Christmas as the New Vic’s much-anticipated Beauty and the Beast takes to the stage. The Basford theatre-in-the-round’s spectacular production has taken the much-loved fairy tale back to its roots, inspired by the very earliest versions of the story, but interpreted in the theatre’s unique style with 11 actors playing 34 different characters – some of them on stilts, in the air or on wheels.
Beauty and the Beast is adapted and directed by the New Vic’s artistic director Theresa Heskins, joined by a creative team who have worked on previous New Vic shows including The Prince and the Pauper, The Borrowers and Treasure Island.
Due to the covid-19 pandemic, the last time the New Vic was able to put on a festive production was in 2019 with The Prince and the Pauper.
Beauty and the Beast was replaced by Coppelia – A Mystery for last year’s festive season, but as Staffordshire entered Tier 3 of restrictions at the end of November 2020, performances had to be moved to the spring, and then the summer.
Theatre Manager David Sunnuck said: “We’ve seen that people are really keen to come back to the theatre and that they feel safe doing so, which is fantastic.
“The feedback we’ve had from audience members has been overwhelmingly positive, they’re so grateful to experience the live events they’ve been missing once again.
“The festive season is always as exciting for us as it is for audiences, but it feels extra special and poignant this year after what we’ve all been through.”
New Vic artistic director Theresa Heskins said: “Beauty and the Beast is such a well-known and wellloved tale, full of magic and romance.
“We have gone back to the original stories, which feature some delicious characters and moments, so audiences will find everything they know and love about this enchanting story, with a few extra surprises, including a lot of humour.
“That theme of looking beyond appearances is so meaningful to young and old alike. This story is also about how difficult we sometimes find it to accept people who not only look but also behave differently from us; who have different values.
“It’s a story about overcoming that difficulty and accepting people for who they are, and the tremendous benefits that brings.”
Beauty and the Beast will run Saturday, January 29. Tickets are on sale now, priced from £19-£28.50. Call 01782 717 962 or visit newvictheatre.org.uk.