Nichola McAuliffe has Great Expectations for UK tour
Nichola McAuliffe is to star as Miss Havisham in a national tour of the Charles Dickens classic, Great Expectations.
The co-production, from Tilted Wig and Malvern Theatres, will open at Malvern Theatres on February 8.
This powerful new stage adaptation by Ken Bentley, directed by Sophie Boyce Couzens, also stars Séan Aydon, Isla Carter, Edward Ferrow and Richard Earl.
Following a terrifying encounter with an escaped convict, young Pip is given an unexpected chance to better himself by visiting the reclusive and mysterious Miss Havisham.
In the decaying grandeur of her house, Pip falls in love with Estella and helped by an anonymous benefactor, he moves to the bustling city to pursue his dream of winning Estella’s heart and becoming part of the educated elite.
Peopled by some of Dickens’ most colourful and memorable characters and painted in rich, vivid colour this new production promises a powerful and theatrical telling of Dicken’s universally loved masterpiece.
2018 Tour Dates
February 8–10 & 15-17, Malvern Theatres
February 20–24, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
February 27–March 3, Theatr Clwyd, Mold
March 6–10, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds
March 12-17, Richmond Theatre
March 19–24,Palace Theatre, Southend
March 27–31, Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne
April 3–7, Buxton Opera House
April 10–14, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick
April 24–28, Theatre Royal, Winchester
May 2–5, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
May 8–12, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
May 22–26, New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth
May 29–June 2, Churchill Theatre, Bromley
June 6–9, The Hawth, Crawley
June 19–23, Exeter Northcott Theatre.
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Took our teenage daughter to the play last night. We all greatly enjoyed it. The acting was excellent. Very touched by the actress who played Estella. Her engagement with the character towards the end was as clearly moving for her as for us. We had all read the book so difficult to comment on its accessibility for those who hadn’t. Maybe more obvious costume changes for Mrs Joe / Biddy etc would help those who don’t know the plot? Feel sad that the audience wasn’t bigger and wonder if the negative reviews have had an impact. Our thoughts are that if you’ve read the book the closing scenes will be very powerful.
Maybe the muppet’s take on A Christmas Carol would be more suiting to you lot
Just went to matinee at Buxton – to be fair acting was excellent but found it quite challenging due to poor sound – we noticed a few folk only stayed until the interval and one couple left after 20 minutes! which was a shame as second half was more enjoyable – not the most enjoyable I’ve seen but looking round others did enjoy so make your own mind up !!
We only stayed for the first part. Could not tell what the actors were saying a lot of the time, nor who was who seeing as the actors swapped around a lot, and for many scenes were actually all on the stage at the same time. Seemed more ‘accidental’ than ‘experimental’, which is a shame because I believe the acting was pretty good.
As a Shakespeare fan would say that it is easier to get the gist of a Shakespeare play.
Do us a favour, it was excellent.
Learn the story you numbskulls.
What larks!
Just been to Great Expectations at Yvonne Arnaud. If you do not know the plot it is very difficult to follow as the set is gimmicky and some of the dialogue confusing,especially as the actors kept changing roles. It did improve in the second half but some of the audience did not remain to see it! One of the worst plays that I have ever been to although one friend disagreed and called it Brilliant.
Saw this last night … have to agree not a good interpretation …. perhaps some books do not translate well to the stage with gimmicky stage sets.. very confusing when actors playing so many parts.