Staffordshire theatre The New Vic is once again honouring Philip Astley - the founder of the modern circus - by staging its hit show, Astley’s Astounding Adventures. A spectacle to behold, the production is filled with fast-paced action and breathtaking circus skills.  Here, lead actor Nicholas Richardson tells What’s On what it’s like to be playing a local hero...

The premiere of Astley’s Astounding Adventures at the New Vic in 2018 captivated and thrilled audiences of all ages with its fast-paced action and laugh-out-loud humour. The story is based on the life of Philip Astley, the Newcastle-under-Lyme-born impresario who invented circus, and incorporates gripping drama and breath-taking circus performance. 

Five years later, the exciting production is returning to the venue and promises to be just as impressive.  
This latest outing of Astley’s Astounding Adventures features added thrills and surprises. It also sees original cast member Nicholas Richardson once again playing Philip Astley. So how does he feel about being back in the title role?  

“It’s a mixture of emotions,” Nicholas admits. “I’m excited and curious - and if I think too much on it, nervous! But only in terms of doing it justice. We’re telling a real story about a very significant local figure, and we have to live as close to that as possible. The story is already so magnificent and always bigger than the individuals acting it out, so we have a high standard to reach!”

Thinking back to 2018, where audiences were thrown into an ‘adrenaline-fuelled true story’, Nicholas recalls his favourite memory happening on a particular night midway through the first act…

“There was one amazing moment - a really moving moment, actually. It was where Dani (Danielle Bird, who plays Patty Jones) did this silk routine that happens mid-show - not at the end or anything - and there was a standing ovation. We just had to stand and wait on stage for the audience to stop applauding. I have never had an experience like that before or since - a standing ovation mid-show! To make people feel that way again would be incredible.”

Combining drama and circus is no mean feat, and actors undergo an intensive training process before they are ready to perform. Nicholas doesn’t have a circus background to draw on, so what’s it been like for him?

“The training is easy! Super easy! No, just kidding! It’s actually very hard work. You can do as much training as you possibly can before coming into a play like this, but you just can’t prepare for something like silks without doing silks. It’s the height factor, the bruising, the stretching... We’re three days in and I’m having a bath every night; let’s put it that way. It’s a very intense process, but a rewarding one. After a while you start to feel excited as the story is wrapped around physicality.

“My favourite skill that I’ve learnt is probably juggling. I’ve never used it since, but at least I know I can do it! The escapology is really interesting, too. Learning how that works was a frustrating process but a really fascinating skill - it’s like learning a magic trick.”

Nicholas has also had to familiarise himself with the character he portrays. Philip Astley invented the modern circus in 1768 and was at the heart of many early performances.  

“Astley was an incredibly tenacious and determined individual who never gave up on his dreams. He’s a very inspirational character. One thing that struck me about him is just how competitive he had to be and his desire to prove to the world what is possible. He was a genius of his time.”

This latest staging of Astley’s Astounding Adventures is in celebration of the 850th anniversary of Newcastle-under-Lyme receiving its charter to become a borough.  

“It’s incredibly special to be celebrating the life of Philip Astley during a monumental year in his native-town’s history,” says Nicholas. “It’s also wonderful to celebrate the work, skillset and talent of circus performers. Watching these artists perform on silks and trapeze is remarkable, and to dedicate your life to learning a craft like that deserves some celebration because it’s a brave thing to do.”

It is hoped that the show may inspire the next generation of circus artists.

“I think it will inspire people to do something different and challenge themselves and be reminded that it’s okay to not always succeed. It’s an important lesson - not just for circus performers or actors or Philip Astley but for everyone in life. A story of failure and redemption and getting back up again - it’s an inspiring narrative. And circus in general is such a great fitness skill - it’s so accessible. I would encourage anyone interested to explore it.”

So how would Nicholas sum up Astley’s Astounding Adventures?

“It’s energetic and inspiring, moving and compelling. It’s a rollercoaster. I don’t know what it’s like to watch - I wish I did - but I know it’s like a heart-acceleration experience that will leave a longlasting impression on audiences. And the best part about it is that it’s all true - it’s a real-life extraordinary story about a local hero.”