Theatre celebrates 40th anniversary

A small Staffordshire theatre which made history as Europe's first purpose-built theatre-in-the-round has been marking 40 years of innovative performances.

The New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme officially opened on 13 August 1986 and was supported by a public appeal which raised more than £1m in donations.

In the years since it has hosted 580 plays, and has seen Ben Kingsley, Freddie Jones, Bob Hoskins and Robert Powell tread the boards.

Its impact has been felt not just in north Staffordshire, but globally, as a number of its plays have been toured far beyond its walls.