Dickens’ epic tale

Dec 5 2008 by Michael Green, Flintshire Chronicle

CHARLES Dickens has long been as much a part of a traditional English Christmas as turkey and cranberry sauce and one of his greatest ever stories has been chosen as the festive offering for 2008 at the Library Theatre in Manchester.

Great Expectations has been brought to the stage by Neil Bartlett – whose adaptation of Dickens’ Oliver Twist in 2005 at the Library Theatre was a huge hit with critics and audiences alike.

Regarded by many as Dickens’ greatest novel, Great Expectations is the story of young orphan Pip, whose path through life will be largely shaped by two experiences in his early years which turn out to have far-reaching consequences.

Pip first has a traumatic and dramatic encounter with escaped convict Magwitch, whom he befriends. He then meets the eccentric and capricious spinster Miss Havisham, who has never truly recovered from being ditched at the altar.

And then Pip meets Miss Havisham’s beautiful but spiteful adopted daughter, Estella.

Bartlett’s powerful and imaginative stage version of Dickens’ epic story promises to be one of the most thrilling theatrical experiences of the year.

The cast is headed by Blackpool-born Claire Redcliffe, who starred as Hatty in last year’s Library Theatre Christmas production, Tom’s Midnight Garden, as Estella; and making his Library Theatre debut as Pip is Leon Williams, a recent graduate of the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Richard Heap returns to the Library Theatre for the first time in nearly 10 years to play Magwitch, while veteran actress Helen Ryan, a BAFTA nominee for her role in the 1975 ITV mini-series Edward the Seventh, who also starred in Tom’s Midnight Garden last year, plays Miss Havisham.

Great Expectations can be seen at the Library Theatre until January 27. Ring the box office on 0161 236 7110.