A Dickens of a time for Royal audiences
October 11, 2007
A REVELATION when it was performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Chichester Festival Theatre presents The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Parts I and II) at the Theatre Royal from Monday 15 - Saturday 20 October.
Nicholas Nickleby became a landmark production in 1980 winning the Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Play as well as being described as a once in a lifetime theatrical experience by audiences. Last year, history repeated itself, when the Chichester Festival Theatre presented the first ever major revival which played to rave reviews and packed houses. The sheer scale of the production makes it a truly unique event.
Dickens’ exhilarating story is brought vividly to life by a company of 27 actors and 5 musicians and is performed across two performances.Left penniless on the death of his father, Nicholas Nickleby sets out toescape the influence of his villainous Uncle Ralph and the tyrannical schoolmaster Wackford Squeers. This spectacular production conjures up 18th Century England in an action packed story full of the exuberant,eccentric and captivating characters that have made Dickens one of the greatest novelists of all time. Whilst the two parts combine to create a unique experience for audiences, each part works as a complete,independent story, so you can see Part I without seeing Part II and vica versa.The cast is led by Daniel Weyman, who was nominated as Best Actor in The TMA Awards for his performance as Nicholas, David Yelland as Ralph Nickleby, Pip Donaghy as Wackford Squeers, Zoe Waites as Mrs Squeers,David Dawson as Smike, Abigail Mckern as Mrs Nickleby and Hannah Yelland as Kate Nickleby. Jonathan Coy, Philippa Stanton, Alison Fiske, Simon Roberts,Christopher Logan, Trisha Kelly, Bob Barrett, Jane Bertish, David Nellist, WayneCater, Peter Moreton, Richard Bremmer, Veronica Roberts, Matthew Spencer,Brian Poyser, Emma Manton, Philip Battley, Roses Urquhart, Sarah Lawrie and Rob Kendrick complete the cast. Nicholas Nickleby has been adapted for the stage by David Edgar, one Of the country’s leading playwrights. His recent credits include Albert Speer at the National Theatre and a new translation of Brecht’sGalileo for Birmingham Rep.
Nicholas Nickleby is directed by Jonathan Church and Philip Franks. Jonathan Church, now Artistic Director at the Chichester Festival Theatre, held the same post at the Birmingham Rep from 2001 - 2006Where his credits included Hobson’s Choice, Private Lives, The David Hare Trilogy and Closer.
Perhaps better known as an actor for his starring roles in Charlie in The Darling Buds of May and Sergeant Craddock in Heartbeat, Philip Franks is also very much in demand as a director and was recentlyappointed Associate Director at the Chichester Festival Theatre. He also directed stage sequences for the film Finding Neverland.
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