Stage: What the Dickens?
In celebration of the Dickens Bicentenary, a new production of Great Expectations comes to the Theatre Royal Brighton
As the culmination of the bicentenary of Charles Dickens, a new stage adaptation of one of his best loved novels will begin a national tour prior to London’s West End, and will be in Brighton this October.
“Such a very fine, new, and grotesque idea has opened upon me,” wrote Dickens on first conceiving his idea for what would become Great Expectations, published in 1860-61. This lavish, spectacular and unashamedly theatrical stage production brings to life some of Dickens’ – indeed literature’s – most memorable characters: the beautiful, chilling Estella, the terrifying convict Magwitch, the manipulative lawyer Jaggers, the tragic, mysterious Miss Havisham, and Pip, with his ‘great expectations’.
Joining Jack Ellis as Jaggers, local celebrity Chris Ellison as Magwitch, Paul Nivison as Adult Pip and Paula Wilcox as Miss Havisham, will be Grace Rowe as Estella and Taylor Jay-Davies as Young Pip, Katy Allen as Camilla Pocket, Gordon Brandie as Bentley Drummle, Josh Elwell as Cousin Raymond, Nathan Guy as Herbert Pocket, Isabelle Joss as Mrs Joe/Sarah Pocket, another local theatre and TV star Steve North as Joe Gargery, Brian Pettifer as Wemmick, Suzanne Robertson as Biddy and James Vaughan as Wopsle.
Jack Ellis is best known as Harry Mason in Coronation Street, Robert Ashford in Where the Heart Is and Jim Fenner in Bad Girls. On stage, he appeared in the West End production of A Few Good Men with Rob Lowe and Suranne Jones and in an international tour of Richard III with Kevin Spacey, directed by Sam Mendes.
Paula Wilcox can currently be seen on television as Pauline in Mount Pleasant, and her other television roles include Hilary Potts in Emmerdale, Lilian in The Smoking Room and Chrissy in Man About The House. Her West End theatre credits include La Cage aux Folles, The Female Odd Couple, The Queen And I and Shirley Valentine.
Great Expectations has been adapted for the stage by Jo Clifford, with direction by Graham McLaren, set by Robin Peoples, costumes by Annie Gosney and Graham McLaren, lighting by Kai Fischer, original music by Simon Slater and sound by Matt McKenzie. Giovanni Bedin for House of Worth will be creating the couture elements of the show, including Miss Havisham’s wedding dress. Charles Frederick Worth, the world’s first official couturier, was a contemporary of Charles Dickens.
The Dickens Trust has been launched alongside the stage show and will receive a royalty share of box office revenue. Set up with Lucinda Dickens Hawksley (great, great, great grand-daughter of Charles Dickens), it will distribute funds to concerns dealing with issues Dickens was passionate about, including prison reform, adoption and literacy. Opening on Tuesday 2 October, this momentous production is surely not to be missed.
Great Expectations, Theatre Royal Brighton, Tuesday 2–Saturday 6 October
Box office 08448 717 650
www.atgtickets.com/brighton
