The New Vic Theatre will present the world premiere of The Grand Babylon Hotel, an adaptation of a story by acclaimed Stoke-on-Trent author Arnold Bennett, as a centrepiece of the city’s centenary celebrations in their next season.

This major new production will be staged alongside only the second ever professional outing of a tender and uplifting play by award-winning playwright Tom Wells. These two exciting titles join the previously announced festive production of The Little Mermaid, completing the New Vic’s 2025 season of produced work.

Stoke-on-Trent-born playwright Arnold Bennett’s rollicking comedy thriller The Grand Babylon Hotel will be adapted for the stage by Deborah McAndrew and directed by UK Theatre Award Best Director nominee and Artistic Director of Claybody Theatre, Conrad Nelson (One Man Two Guvnors, The Card). Previously adapted and aired as a radio play, this new adaptation will be the first ever stage production of Arnold Bennett’s comedy thriller. Coinciding with the anniversary of Stoke-on-Trent officially gaining city status, the production opens on Saturday 13 September to Saturday 4 October.

Big Big Sky by Tom Wells will open on Friday 4 and run until Thursday 24 July.  Directed by former Resident Assistant Director of the New Vic Bryn Holding (Assistant Director on New Vic’s UK Theatre award-winning The Snow Queen), this heartwarming story about family, friendship, love, loss and the natural world celebrates the beauty of everyday life and the importance of community.

Touring to the New Vic during the autumn, the John Godber Company (Bouncers, Perfect Pitch, Up ‘n’ Under) return with their hilarious play Black Tie Ball from Monday 6 to Saturday 11 October. The satirical comedy blends the glitz and glam of a sophisticated event and explores themes of jealousy, avarice, divorce and affairs as events are recounted by hotel staff. The Stephen Joseph Theatre will also return to Newcastle-under-Lyme with Alan Ayckbourn’s (Show & Tell, Constant Companions, The Girl Next Door) 91st play, Earth Angel, from Tuesday 13 to Saturday 25 October. The legendary playwright’s latest play digs deep into one of life’s great mysteries – what makes someone a good person.

The theatre will then end the year with the previously announced production of The Little Mermaid. This brand new adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale will combine contemporary circus with enchanting storytelling, stunning live music and incredible moments of adventure. The next show to be produced as part of the New Vic’s circus-theatre programme of work, the production will be directed by New Vic Artistic Director Theresa Heskins and Vicki Dela Amedume, Artistic Director of Upswing, who will collaborate once again following on from their critically-acclaimed adaptations of Angela Carter’s The Company of Wolves and Hans Christian Andersens’s The Princess and The Pea, which transferred to 42nd Street’s New Victory Theatre in New York in October 2024.

New Vic Artistic Director Theresa Heskins said: “2025 is a big year for the city of Stoke-on-Trent and what better way to celebrate its rich creative heritage than with two world premiere productions written by local artists. Our production of Arthur Berry’s Whatever Happened To Phoebe Salt in May will be followed in the autumn with Arnold Bennett’s The Grand Babylon Hotel – both stories that will resonate deeply with local audiences. To top off the year, Newcastle-under-Lyme’s unique place in circus history forms part of the inspiration for our festive show, The Little Mermaid. We look forward to bringing the creative talents of our local cultural heroes to a wider audience.”

The New Vic’s autumn season goes on general sale at 12noon on Tuesday 22 April. For more information visit newvictheatre.org.uk or call the Box Office on 01782 717962.