The 39 Steps at the New Vic

The New Vic Theatre puts its trademark stamp on thrilling spy comedy-drama The 39 Steps from Friday 8 to Saturday 30 March.

New Vic’s Artistic Director Theresa Heskins (Astley’s Astounding Adventures, Around The World In 80 Days) directs John Buchan and Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps in a thrilling new production that places the action in-the-round. Adapted by Patrick Barlow from an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon, this version of the famous thriller is an inventive, fast-paced caper that features just four actors playing over 120 characters and will be filled with side-splitting comedy, and lots of ingenious physical theatre.

First published in 1915, John Buchan’s The Thirty-Nine Steps was the first of five novels featuring Richard Hannay, an unlikely hero with a stiff upper lip and a knack of getting into, and out of, tricky situations. Alfred Hitchcock’s lauded 1935 masterpiece paved the way for more adaptations, a record-breaking West End run, stints on Broadway, and a host of awards including two Tony Awards.

The New Vic’s new production will put codebreaking conundrums centre-stage with an intriguing Enigma machine-inspired design by Dawn Allsopp (Votes for Women, New Vic Theatre, Hard Times, Northern Broadsides), an epic soundscape from Sound Designer Alex Day, that will utilise elements of Morse Code, and an atmospheric musical score composed by James Atherton (Astley’s Astounding Adventures, Dracula, New Vic Theatre).

The 39 Steps follows in the footsteps of the New Vic’s hugely successful Around The World In 80 Days, which toured the country from 2017 to 2018 with co-producers Kenny Wax Family Entertainment and Simon Friend. Creating all the characters are a cast of New Vic Theatre favourites: Rebecca Brewer (Playhouse Creatures, New Vic Theatre; Superblackman, Battersea Arts Centre; Accession, Criterion Theatre) who will play Annabella, Pamela and Margaret; Gareth Cassidy (Astley’s Astounding Adventures, New Vic Theatre; The Hobbit, The Duke’s, Lancaster) who will play Clown; Michael Hugo (Around The World In 80 Days, New Vic Theatre; They Don’t Pay? We Won’t Pay!, Northern Broadsides) who will play Clown; and Isaac Stanmore (Chicago, Pitlochry Festival Theatre; Dracula, New Vic Theatre) who will play Richard Hannay.

Go to Baba’s What’s ON pages here for more information.

**Check out Baba’s Review here.