Bleak Expectations
by Mark Evans
10th-17th May 2025 7.30pm
A joyfully anarchic journey through Dickensian London and beyond
The story Charles Dickens might have written after drinking too much gin… Follow half-orphan Pip’s extraordinary exploits with sisters Pippa and Poppy and best friend Harry Biscuit, as they attempt to escape the calculating clutches of the dastardly Mr Gently Benevolent, defeat the hideous Hardthrasher siblings, and deflect disaster at every turn! Will evil be vanquished by virtue? Can love triumph over hate? Mark Evans’ stage play Bleak Expectations is a hilarious, chaotic caper, featuring dastardly villains, preposterous names, pulse-quickening romances, heart-rending death scenes, and definitely, probably, hopefully a happy ending.
Based on the award-winning BBC Radio 4 series, the play opened at The Watermill Theatre, Newbury, in 2022, directed by Caroline Leslie.
It transferred to the Criterion Theatre in London’s West End in 2023, where it featured a medley of many well-known actors and comedians. It offers rich opportunities to amateur theatre companies looking for a gloriously daft Dickensian romp which will have their audiences joyfully transported and begging for more.
Based on the award-winning radio series by Mark Evans, Bleak Expectations takes you on a joyfully anarchic journey through Dickensian London and beyond. Follow the heroic misadventures of young Pip Bin as he battles mistaken identities, contemptible conspiracies and surreal plot twists in his quest to save his family and find true love.
Cast
Narrator … Martin Wadsworth
Pip Bin … Kelsie Weavill
Pippa Bin … Kiah Lees
Poppy Bin / Ripely Fecund … Kaytee Mackensie-Pilot
Harry Biscuit … Joe Doughty
Agnes Bin / Flora Dies Early … Angela Walsh
Thomas Bin / Bakewell Havertwitch / Broadly Fecund … Mark Hobson
Gently Benevolent/ vicar/ Harlan J Trashcan … Duncan Ross
The Hardthrashers x4 : Whackwell, Reverend Praygood, Miss Chastity
Judge Solomon … Mark Rosenthal
Skinflint Parsimonious … James Riley
Hand of Lily … James Riley
Ensemble parts
St. Bastard School boys
Crutch Person
London Vendor
Rubbish dumpers
Rubbish collectors
Court Official
The cast plus Peter Dignan, James Riley, Heather Taylor
Crew
Director…. Verity Mann
PA… Haether Taylor
Set…Sally McKee, David McKee, Chris Bannatyne
Lighting… Mike Lawlor
Sound… Andrew Mann
Singing Coach & Organ… Stella Woods
Costumes… Sarah McKensie-Pilot, Verity Mann, Sue Lund,
Props … Lynda Hoyle, Heather Kershaw, Victoria Slater,
Prompt … Anne Wright
Stage Manager .. Kellie Cross-Doughty
Assistant SM … James Riley
Publicity … Andrew Mann , Alan Gorst
I’m old and confused.
Is this a play with actors or a film of a play?
Thank you.