World premiere of Max Porter's LANNY announced at Bristol Old Vic for 260th anniversary
Bristol Old Vic have announced the world premiere stage adaptation of Max Porter’s folk horror Lanny, adapted by multi-award-winning West Country writer Bea Roberts, to celebrate the theatre’s 260th anniversary.
Directed by Artistic Director Nancy Medina and commissioned by Bristol Old Vic, in association with ETT, Lanny will run at Bristol Old Vic from 16 October–7 November.
Nancy Medina said: “Commissioned in 2024 as we announced a renewed focus on support for writers, Lanny is a brilliant example of the work we want Bristol Old Vic’s re-energised Literary department to cultivate; a story with its roots firmly in the South West, created by phenomenally talented artists, whose work we cannot wait to platform. We could not be more excited to share Bea's beautiful adaptation of Max’s extraordinary novel with our audience here in Bristol. Looking to the future, there is a lot more to come from Bristol Old Vic’s literary engine room, watch this space”
When a family move out of London to a West Country village, their son Lanny awakens the interest of the mythical figure Dead Papa Toothwort. Reality and imagination intertwine in a dark and powerful story of folklore, fable and the nature of belonging.
Lanny was Max Porter’s fearless second novel, nominated for multiple awards including the Man Booker Prize in 2019. His first, Grief is the Thing With Feathers, won numerous awards including the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award and was adapted into a stage play starring Cillian Murphy and a film starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Max’s recent 2025 BAFTA-nominated Netflix adaptation Steve also starred Cillian Murphy and was based on his novel Shy.
Bea Roberts said: “I’m thrilled to be returning to Bristol Old Vic and working with the brilliant Nancy Medina on this extraordinary, mischievous and feral tale. Max Porter is one of the most exciting and innovative authors working today and I’m so blessed that Max is trusting me with Lanny, his much-beloved modern cult classic. It’s a novel unlike any other and we’re collaborating with some amazing West Country talent to craft a stage show that I hope captures the story’s wild and beguiling essence.”
Max Porter said: “It’s a dream come true to work with Bristol Old Vic, and to see Lanny coming to life through Bea Roberts' extraordinary reimagining. She’s brought the weird folk mysteries of the book alive but also created an incredibly moving polyphonic portrait of contemporary life that I think will really astonish audiences. It’s a play springing from the South West but with universal themes.”