PAST EVENTS

30 January - 1 March

New Vic Theatre
Etruria Road ST5 0JG

Berry RAW

Presented by Barewall Gallery, with kind permission from the Berry Estate, private collectors and partners.

A Centenary Exhibition of paintings, drawings and artifacts from the estate of Arthur Berry 

RAW was an important exhibition of Berry paintings showing BERRY at his most authentic, honest self, rooted in expressing the human condition in its raw state. The exhibition includes never-before-seen artwork, shown alongside original sketches and items from the Berry archive. 

8 February, 14:00 & 15:30

Brampton Museum
Brampton Park, ST5 0PQ

Arthur Berry New Perspectives

Presented by Staffordshire Film Archive

In this special archive film screening, audiences are offered the change to find out more about Potteries’ cultural icon Arthur Berry in his own words - and from the people that knew him best.

Join host Ray Johnson for an extra special event to celebrate one of Stoke-on-Trent’s most famous sons.

26 February 2025

Lunar, World of Wedgewood, Barlaston

Lunar Art and Wine Society: The Two Arthurs

Presented by Lunar

A special evening celebrating the remarkable partnership between Arthur Berry and Arthur Wood.

21 March

12:00 - 16:00

Newcastle Library, Castle House, Newcastle-under-Lyme ST5 1BL

Poetry Busk

Presented by Newcastle Library supported by the Keele Key Fund

Celebrating World Poetry Day, and its theme of Poetry for peace and unity, the Poetry Busk will bring together a whole host of poets, be them published, hobbyist, students, readers, and appreciators. The aim is to perform 4 hours of rolling poetry for free to an audience who can stay as long as they like.

Join Rory Blessington from New Vic Borderlines to hear some of Arthur Berry’s work, and have a go at creating your own.

26 April 2025

Middleport Pottery
Port Street, ST6 3PE

A Bunch of Flowers

Presented by Barewall

A stunning new animation that brings Arthur Berry’s story to life like never before. Being shown as part of Middleport Pottery Spring Festival.

27 May - 28 June 2025

New Vic Theatre
Etruria Road ST5 0JG

Theatre Maker Exhibition

Presented by New Vic Theatre

A prolific creative artist and writer, Arthur Berry was inspired to write his first play after seeing a production of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood at the Vic Theatre in 1972. Then, a chance meeting with theatre director Peter Cheeseman at the Swan Hotel in Burslem led to 10 years of fruitful collaboration with The Vic. Five of Berry’s plays were staged at the old Vic on Hartshill Road, before St George of Scotia Road opened at the New Vic Theatre in 1986.

In this exhibition, see a collection of the artist’s original drawings - vibrant characters and settings created for his plays - from the Victoria Theatre Archive at Staffordshire University, alongside production photographs from the performances themselves.

31 May - 21 June 2025

New Vic Theatre
Etruria Road ST5 0JG

Whatever Happened To Phoebe Salt

Presented by New Vic Theatre

A World Premier Production

Born and raised in the industrial heartland of Stoke-on-Trent, Phoebe Salt spends her days working in the meat market, trapped in a daily grind of blood and bone.

After work, yearning for glamour and adventure, she rehearses her role as a showman’s assistant with the local town entertainer and soon, opportunity knocks.

Will a TV appearance help her finally escape the trials and tribulations of working life or does her fate have other plans?