AN ANNUAL PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES AND SHOWS WITH NEW VIC THEATRE
Our partnership with the New Vic has been going strong for over 14 years. We first collaborated in 2009 on Bryony Lavery’s The Wicked Lady, and went on to create Astley’s Astounding Adventures together, as well as other projects.
Based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, the New Vic Theatre sits at the heart of the town where modern day circus was invented, by Philip Astley.
Our connection with the New Vic has grown from a desire to find creative ways to push the boundaries of circus and theatre. We created this new programme of work together, to allow us to tell even more new stories in bold, ambitious and extraordinary ways.
2025 programme: Circus Throwdown
Before SHOWDOWN took over the New Vic Theatre in May 2025, Circus Throwdown brought a taste of the competition to Stoke-on-Trent.
Three skilled performers competed for a chance to advance to the Showdown finals. Our mischievous host guided contestants through high-energy challenges as they display their circus talents and vied for audience approval. After each show, audiences were invited to step into the competitors’ shoes with our free 45-minute acrobatics workshops.
All show timings were totally free and open for all to attend.
2023 & 2024 Programme
In 2023 we brought Astley’s Astounding Adventures back to life. Upswing’s Artistic Director Vicki Dela Amedume worked with The Artistic Director of the New Vic Theresa Heskins to reinvigorate their bold and colourful tale of the founding father of circus. They also collaborated to bring The Princess and the Pea – a modern rendition of a classic fairytale to the Unicorn’s stage in London and The New Victory’s stage in New York in 2024.
Alongside this, our free, immersive outdoor circus event Circus Flavours toured public spaces in Newscastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent throughout summer 23-24
Our Circus Flavours artists also ran two circus skills summer schools, focusing on providing activities and opportunities to community members and young people in care.
This programme of work is made possible as part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) funding
