Play created to mark city's centenary goes on tour

Michael Hugo and Shelley Atkinson star as the main protagonists of The Grand Babylon Hotel

A theatre's adaption of a century-old story, created to celebrate a city's centenary, will be taken on tour to other venues in the UK.

In September, Claybody Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent produced its version of The Grand Babylon Hotel, which was published by Hanley-born author Arnold Bennett in 1902, to mark the city's 100th year.

Following a positive response from audiences, the theatre revealed it would be taking the play to Hull, Scarborough, Colchester and Harrogate in March 2026.

Conrad Nelson, artistic director at Claybody, said it was a "fantastic" thing to do and he was excited to begin working on the tour.

"We've got something that's really backstamped with Stoke-on-Trent in the centenary year and we can now take it out to the rest of the county, which is great," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

The story is centred on an American millionaire Theodore Racksole and his daughter Nella, who is denied a steak and beer on her birthday while staying at the exclusive Grand Babylon hotel.

This leads to her father then buying the entire hotel but he then notices a number of strange things happening at the venue.

The adaptation of The Grand Babylon Hotel was written by Deborah McAndrew

Claybody's adapted story was written by Mr Nelson's fellow artistic director Deborah McAndrew and produced in partnership with The New Vic Theatre.

Mr Nelson, who directed the play, said the positive response to the show's initial run earlier in 2025 proved the team was "doing the right thing".

"What we always remember when we make a piece of work is who is going to consume it," he said. "The audience are the most important thing."

He added: "When an audience responds really positively to it, they are the greatest publicist you could ever have."

The Grand Babylon Hotel will be performed at Claybody Theatre's base at The Dipping House in Stoke-on-Trent from 27 February to 7 March before it goes on tour.