Royal & Derngate’s Made in Northampton season starts with the world premiere of a new adaptation Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of Two Cities. The first of new Artistic Director James Dacre’s productions to be seen in Northampton, this epic theatrical event is on the Royal stage until 15th March.
Dickens considered his novel, A Tale Of Two Cities “the best story I have ever written.” Interweaving one family’s intensely personal drama with the terror and chaos of the French Revolution, it is an epic story of love, sacrifice and redemption amidst horrific violence and world changing events.
This new dramatic adaptation by Mike Poulton, whose most recent credits include Fortune’s Fool at the Old Vic, and Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies for the Royal Shakespeare Company, seems more relevant than ever in these troubled times.
Directed by Royal & Derngate’s Artistic Director James Dacre with design by Mike Britton (To Sir, With Love, Royal & Derngate, Macbeth, Shakespeare’s Globe), the play includes rousing original music by Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman (The Cider House Rules, Beloved). Movement direction is by Struan Leslie, previously Head of Movement with the Royal Shakespeare Company. It features one of the largest acting companies to ever appear on the Royal stage.
The cast includes Olivier Award-winning actress Abigail McKern, who appeared in the well-loved TV series Rumpole of the Bailey, alongside her father Leo McKern as Rumpole. Playing the role of Sydney Carton is Oliver Dimsdale (artistic director of theatre company Filter) who was recently seen as the Prince of Wales in the Christmas special of Downton Abbey. The ensemble company of ten perform alongside a large chorus drawn from the local community, to capture the turbulence, anarchy and romance of London and Paris during the tumultuous years of the French revolution.
A Tale Of Two Cities is at the Royal & Derngate until Saturday 15 March.
Box Office: 01604 624811 or online: www.royalandderngate.co.uk.
