Great Expectations

by Declan Donnellan, Charles Dickens (Source Material)

A gritty adaptation of Dickens’ least sentimental love story with a cast of some of his most unforgettable characters.

Whilst at his parents’ graveside, Pip is accosted by Magwitch, a convict escaped from one of the prison ships. Terrified, he is forced to help the man to get away. An unexpected invitation to the house of rich old Miss Havisham forces him into the path of her beautiful, cruel niece Estella and their strange, ruthless games. After an anonymous benefactor grants him a small fortune, Pip turns his back on his humble life as a blacksmith’s apprentice – he moves to London to become a gentleman in the hopes of winning Estella. But he has no idea of the dangers that await him there, or from where his salvation will come.

'Expectations fulfilled ... a show that is by turns frightening, funny and deeply affecting' - Daily Telegraph

'a wonderfully involving and eloquent adaptation ... a fine example of fast, fluent ensemble story-telling ... tremendous' - Independent

'bursting with snappy humour... Donnellan's adaptation beautifully conveys the world as seen by a child' - Sunday Telegraph

128 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2006

Reviews

[Stella Ottewill]

Fast paced, gloriously interwoven storytelling. Would present a worthy challenge to a dedicated troop of actors.

[Jon]

A straight down the line, fast paced stage adaptation. Very few staging directions leaving a company free to interpret freely how they will jump from location to location at lightening speed. You can't help feel like you don't get enough quality time with Estella or Magwitch but Pip is well drawn appearing throughout the play.

*Note that this is a National Theatre adaptation of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations - it is not the novel itself. Many reviews referring to the novel have ended up linked to this ISBN on goodreads*