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David Copperfield

The Barn Theatre, Southwick Community Centre

December 29, 30, 2007 – January 2, 3, 4 & 5, 2008

David Copperfield

by Ian Mullins adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens

Directed by
Kevin Isaac  &  Tony Brownings


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2190712_david-copperfield_playbill

“over ambitious”
– Brighton Argus –

Cast

Miles Bland – David Copperfield, as a boy

Ryan Lainchbury – David Copperfield, as a young man

Tony Brownings – David Copperfield, as the narrator

Diane Robinson – Betsy Trotwood, David’s aunt

Helen Brewster – Clara, David’s mother

Natalie Colgate – Peggotty, Copperfield’s maid servant

Peter Thompson – Barkis, a coachman

Bob Ryder – Mr. Peggotty, Peggotty’s brother, a Yarmouth fisherman

Richard Bulling – Ham, Mr. Peggotty’s nephew

Sophie Lane – Little Emily – Mr. Peggotty’s niece

Helen Brewster – Martha, Emily’s friend

Joan Bearman – Mrs. Gummidge, a member of the Peggotty household

John Garland – Mr. Murdstone, David’s stepfather

Judith Berrill – Jane Murdstone, his sister

Guy Steddon – Mr. Creakle, Headmaster

Stuart Isaac – Tungay, his assistant

Hugo Harwood – Traddles, as a school friend

Tom Harris – Steerforth, as a school friend

Stuart Isaac – Traddles, as a young man

Guy Steddon – Steerforth, as a young man

David Creedon – Mr. Micawber

Sue Chaplin – Mrs. Micawber, his wife

Morgan Jones – Dora

Judith Berrill – Aunt Lavinia

Sue Chaplin – Aunt Clarissa

Ray Hopper – Mr. Dick, companion to Aunt Betsey

Lynda Mostyn – Janet, Housekeeper to Aunt Betsey

Derek Fraser – Mr. Wickfield, a laywer

Kirsty Biss – Agnes, daughter of Mr. Wickfield

Charlotte Roberts – Agnes, as a young woman

Adrian Kenward – Uriah Heep, Mr. Wickfield’s clerk

Hugo Harwood – Waiter

Tom Harris – Sailor

 

Production Crew

Stage ManagerDavid Comber

ASMOlive Smith

Technical Stage ManagerTanya Courtnadge

Lighting DesignMike Medway

Sound OperatorPhilip Oliver

PropertiesMargaret Davy

PropertiesSue Whittaker

WardrobeCherry Briggs

WardrobeMargaret Pierce

Set & Technical TeamDavid Comber

Set & Technical TeamRichard Bulling

Set & Technical TeamDavid Collis

Set & Technical TeamSue Chaplin

Set & Technical TeamMark Flower

Set & Technical TeamSheila Neesham

Set & Technical TeamJudith Berrill

Press & PublicityRosemary Bouchy

Press & PublicityLucien Bouchy

Press & PublicityRosemary Brown

Poster & Programme DesignJudith Berrill

Production PhotosLucien Bouchy

Box OfficeMargaret Murrell

Front of House Co-ordinatorBetty Dawes

 

Programme Note #1: David Copperfield

KI wrote: “Like many fond parents,” wrote Charles Dickens, “I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield.”

Hugely admired by Tolstoy, David Copperfield is the novel that draws more closely from Charles Dicken’s own life. Its eponymous hero, orphaned as a boy, grows up to discover love and happiness, heartbreak and sorrow, amid a cast of eccentrics, innocents, and villains. Praising Dickens’ power of invention, Somerset Maugham wrote: “There were never such people as the Micawbers, Peggotty and Barkis, Traddles, Betsey Trotwood and Mr. Dick, Uriah Heep and his mother. They are fantastic inventions of Dickens’s exultant imagination …. you can never quite forget them.”

Bringing a novel the size and complexity of David Copperfield to the stage has been a long, involved and extremely enjoyable journey. From the early days of working with this adaptation, designing the set, onto casting and rehearsals; every step has been a different challenge and an eye-opening experience. Tony Brownings and I have worked together with a fantastic cat and amazing back-stage and support team to bring to life this epic tale. We hope you enjoy it. To quote Virginia Woolf – David Copperfield – the most perfect of all the Dickens novels.”