Rare revival of black comedy The Killing of Sister George to run at New Vic Theatre

A rare revival of black comedy The Killing of Sister George is to run at New Vic Theatre this spring.

The New Vic Theatre and renowned theatre company Told by an Idiot will collaborate for the first time on the production, running at the Newcastle-under-Lyme venue from 21 April – 13 May 2023.

Told by an Idiot’s Artistic Director, Paul Hunter directs the revival which has design by Lulu Tam, lighting by Daniella Beattie and sound & composition by Sophie Cotton.

On the cast are Told by an Idiot co-founder and award-winning actor Hayley Carmichael as June Buckeridge, Ada Player as Alice ‘Childie’ McNaught,Patrycja Kujawska as Mercy Croft and Rina Fatania as June’s neighbour, Madame Xenia.

Written by Frank Marcus, this acerbic comedy drama observes the life of June Buckeridge, who plays the role of kindly district nurse Sister George in fictitious radio soap opera ‘Applehurst’; in reality June is a swaggering foul-mouthed loose cannon whose career and lifestyle is under threat.

Set during the 1960s, a period of great social change, the play explores the volatile relationship between June and her partner Alice (Childie), and the effect the demise of her fictional character has on her.

Famously adapted into a film in 1968 starring Beryl Reid, the play incorporates wicked humour with moments of surprising tenderness and is a thought-provoking look at the human condition and what happens when the world decides a woman is past her ‘sell by date’.

Told by an Idiot Artistic Director, and director of the production, Paul Hunter said: “We are delighted to be co-producing The Killing of Sister George with the New Vic Theatre, in their glorious in-the-round space. At Told by an Idiot we have always been fascinated by inhabiting the space between laughter and pain, and always searched for the snarl beneath the grin. When we find ourselves drawn to a script it is often because we are looking for work that puts the audience in a place where they don’t know whether to laugh or cry. This was my reaction when out of curiosity I stumbled across this acclaimed 1960’s play, and I’m really looking forward to reimagining it with a fantastic cast in the Idiots 30th anniversary year.”

Artistic Director of the New Vic, Theresa Heskins, added: “As a long-time admirer of Told by an Idiot’s approach to theatre, I’m so looking forward to working with them for the first time as we adapt the landmark drama, The Killing of Sister George, to fit our unique space.”

For more information and tickets, visit newvictheatre.org.uk.