Five Reasons To See…Great Expectations
Up and coming actor Paul Westwood (pictured, left) appears as Herbert Pocket in Roger Haines’ production of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, adapted by Neil Bartlett.
We caught up with him during rehearsals to find out his five reasons for seeing the play.
1: The play! Adapted by Neil Bartlett (also responsible for Oliver Twist directed by Roger Haines in 2005), this really is a cracking adaptation of Dickens’ great classic. In around two hours, you’ll get to follow Pip from a young boy right the way through to manhood and all the exciting and thrilling events and characters fate and chance put in his way. It really is one of the best adaptations of a novel I’ve worked on. It moves at quite a breathless pace from one scene to the next, but you never miss any of the important moments in Pip’s journey.
2: The design! Michael Pavelka has come up with a seemingly simple design for our set (16 large, moving doors), but one which fantastically translates into a myriad of possibilities and opportunities for each scene in the play. As our director Roger Haines says, “I love doors, because you can go through a door, and on the other side: the rest of the world!” Also, the music: being composed as we rehearse by the very talented Richard Taylor. I’m a huge fan of original music in plays, and this, along with the music that will be played live on stage, is wonderful.
3: The actors! Just eight actors will be playing all the roles necessary to bring the story to life. I am playing at least four (at the last count!) and have rather a thrilling scene in which, in the space of a few pages, I get to play three of the them in (very) quick succession! It’s a great challenge for us to be able to switch from one character to the other, but from what I’ve seen so far everyone is managing it fantastically well!
4: It’s a great show for EVERYONE! Regulars at the Library Theatre I’m sure will love it, but families and friends too will have a great matinee or evening out. My nephew, Josh, is coming to watch the play (it will be the first time he’s seen me on stage) and I know he’s going to love it. Roger and the company are so creative in rehearsals, and we’ve got a complete mix of funny, scary and quite moving moments threaded throughout the piece. If I was seven years old, like Josh, I know I’d be on the edge of my seat!
5: There’s a great array and variety of fantastic shows on here in Manchester at this time of year, but I don’t think you can beat Dickens as all round entertainment. I think it really does have everything. And from speaking to the box office staff here, it seems the theatre-going public agree. I’d love for you to come and see it too!
-Paul Westwood
Great Expectations is at the Library Theatre from 29 November – 17 January.
For more information call 0161 236 7110 or visit the theatre’s website.