The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
DATES and casting have now been confirmed for the West End transfer of Chichester Festival’s revival of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.
The two-part adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale will run for a limited season – just 66 performances – at the Gielgud Theatre, from December 8, 2007 (previews from December 5) until January 27, 2007.
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby was a hit at last year’s Chichester Festival and will return this September (from 10 to 22) before embarking on a national tour that concludes in November. Following its run at the Gielgud, it will transfer to the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto for a limited season.
This updated version – the first major revival since Trevor Nunn and John Caird’s epic 1980 dramatisation for the RSC – is directed by Chichester artistic director Jonathan Church and Philip Franks, with Daniel Weyman leading a cast of more than 20 actors.
The story follows Nicholas, left penniless on the death of his father, as he escapes the influence of his villainous Uncle Ralph and the tyrannical schoolmaster Wackford Squeers and embarks on a thrilling journey through 1830s’ England.
Daniel Weyman, reprising the title role, will lead a cast that also includes real-life father and daughter David Yelland (as Ralph Nickleby) and Hannah Yelland (as Kate Nickleby).
They will be joined by David Dawson (Smike), Pip Donaghy (Mr Squeers/Sir Mulberry Hawk), Veronica Roberts (Mrs Squeers/Mrs Crummles), Zoe Waites (Fanny Squeers), Abigail McKern (Mrs Nickleby), Jonathan Coy (Vincent Crummles/Arthur Gride) and Richard Bremmer (Newman Noggs).
Rewritten by author David Edgar, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby is designed by Simon Higlett, with lighting by Mark Jonathan, music by Stephen Oliver, orchestrations and additional music by Matthew Scott, and sound by Matt McKenzie.
Prior to Nicholas Nickleby, Rupert Goold’s Chichester Festival production of Macbeth, starring Patrick Stewart and Kate Fleetwood, will run from September 26 (previews from September 24) to December 1, 2007 at the Gielgud Theatre.
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