Great Expectations
by by Charles Dickens,
adapted for stage by Neil Bartlett
See this much-loved and enduring story of orphan Pip and his journey from poverty to fortune.
A graveyard. Christmas Eve, 1812. While visiting the grave of his parents, young orphan Pip encounters escaped convict Magwitch – a meeting that will change his life forever.
Using only Dickens extraordinary words and a cast of nine actors, Neil Bartlett has created a powerful stage version of this much loved story. From it’s open ing image of Pip, alone on the windswept marshes , to the haunted darkness of Miss Haversham’s cob-web strewn lair, Bartlett’s inventive and atmospheric adaptation brings to thrilling theatrical life this classic exploration of childhood terrors and hopes- and adult dreams and regrets
Sponsored by Plastics Direct
Cast & Crew
Cast
Pip ………………………………………………………………………………… Sam Reid
Mrs. Joe/Biddy ……………………………………..Margaret Thompson
Abel Magwitch ……………………………………………………John Hankin
Joe Gargery/Wemmick ………………………………………….Phil Clegg
Miss Havisham ………………………………………….. Patricia Redshaw
Estella ……………………………………………………………………… Kate Davies
Mr. Bumblechook ………………………………………………… Ian Crickett
Sarah Pocket ……………………………………………………..Helena Tinker
Bentley Drummle ………………………………………………..David Lyons
Mr. Jaggers/Compeyson ………………………………….Neil Bamford
Herbert Pocket/Mr. Wopsle ………………………………..Jake Talbot
Crew
Director ……………………………………………………………..Karen Barton
Set design …………………………………….. Karen Barton, Keith Begley
Set construction ………………………………… Keith Begley, Colin Watt
Stage manager ……………………………………………………..Verity Mann
Lighting …………………………………………………………..David Plowright
Sound ……………………………………………. Luke Settle, Andrew Mann
Costume …………………………………………..Verity Mann, Sandy Dixie
Props …………………………………………………………………Liz O’Driscoll
Prompt ………………………………………………………………Melvyn Bates
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
Neil Bartlett’s adaptation of Great Expectations is written for performance as an ensemble piece with actors doubling roles and acting
a little like a Greek chorus. Although it doesn’t totally conform to a traditional ensemble piece, because there is one role which is the
linchpin of the play – Pip. Dickens wrote Great Expectations as a memoir from the perspective of Pip. My vision for the play is
that the audience view Pip’s visions as he remembers. Dickensian characters tend not to be multi-dimensional characters, but caricatures; the very essence of a character type and when one remembers people, they often seem larger than life; remember your worst enemy and out he or she pops, the very essence of evil! So enjoy Dickens’ memorable characters as they pop into live on our stage.
Karen Barton