Octagon explores world of Copperfield for Christmas

Continuing in the tradition of producing classic Dickens tales over the Christmas period, the Octagon Theatre Bolton presents a festive production of David Copperfield.

In a story that brings puppets, donkeys, butterflies and a breathtaking sailing ship to the Octagon stage, David Copperfield tells the story of a young boy’s adventure through childhood and the challenges he encounters along the way, meeting all kinds of colourful characters on his road to adulthood.

The production also includes wonderful original songs performed live on stage by a cast of professional actors alongside a team of talented local young performers. Dickens himself chose this piece over all of his other works, saying “I have in my heart of hearts a favourite…and his name is David Copperfield”.

Director Elizabeth Newman commented on the production: “We are so excited about having a young company in David Copperfield. They will perform using puppets, masks and even water pistols! David Copperfield is not only one of our most loved classical stories, it is also playful and full of adventures”

Geoff Breton, who appeared in the BBC’s The Diary of Anne Frank, plays the title role as a young man. Starring alongside Breton are Lloyd Gorman, Barbara Hockaday and Simeon Truby. They are joined on stage by a host of young performers from the local area who attended open auditions earlier in the year to win their places on the Octagon stage.

This Dickens classic has been adapted for the Octagon by Deborah McAndrew, who played fashion designer Angie Freeman in Coronation Street. Her first break as a writer came in 2004 when Northern Broadsides produced her adaptation of The Bells by Leopold Lewis. Last Christmas Deborah’s adaptation of Oliver Twist! received rave reviews, smashing box office records at the Octagon.

David Copperfield is at the Octagon from Friday 19 November 2010 – Saturday 15 January 2011.