DAVID Copperfield: A Life is an exciting new re-telling of Dickens’ classic, brought to the stage of Bath Theatre Royal, from Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd February in an epic community production. A cast of more than 100 people is led by award-winning director Sally Cookson and writer-adapter Mike Akers.
This new version asks the questions: What does this story mean to us today? How can we make it our own? And how do we build a community through the act of making theatre? The show will include creative BSL integration, visually stunning storytelling and live music. It runs for five performances only.
The story, one of Dickens’ best loved, follows David Copperfield from infancy to adulthood as he strives to find love and connection in a world that feels at times impossibly lonely and cruel. It is a wide-ranging tale, packed with some of Dickens’s most vivid characters including Peggotty, Betsey Trotwood, Steerforth, Mr Micawber and Uriah Heap.
Director, Sally Cookson said: “We began the process of inviting anyone who wanted to be part of this project to join in one of several taster workshops that were held in various locations throughout Bath and North East Somerset. The aim of the project – to create a piece of theatre together. Now, no longer strangers but a community of over one hundred theatre makers, all with a variety of experiences, investing every part of ourselves and looking out for each other, to bring a story – that we have come to love – to life. What is certain is that our version of David Copperfield will be a unique theatrical experience, made by this extraordinary company with bravery, openness, generosity and a lot of LOVE”.
The production is the spectacular result of a year-long project from a professional creative team who have worked with a cast of more than 100 community actors to bring Dicken’s masterful mix of poignancy and humour to life.
David Copperfield: A Life is part of Bath Theatre Royal’s Engage programme, which was established following the landmark community staging of Ben Hur at the theatre in 2010. That project was conceived when the Trustees of the estate of the late Beryl Billings, (whose stage name was Margot Boyd), contacted the Theatre Royal. Actress Margot Boyd (best known for the long-running role of Marjorie Antrobus in BBC Radio 4’s The Archers), was born and educated in Bath, and always kept a strong affection for the city. When she died in 2008 at the age of 94, she stated in her will that she wanted to encourage local people to experience the excitement of being involved in theatre. The Miss Beryl Billings Charitable Trust funded the project and subsequently the Engage programme was established; and continues to support adults from all backgrounds and levels of experience to get involved in theatre.
Two rehearsal photographs by Helena M show the company on stage and one of the young actors.