The West End transfer of Mark Evans' Charles Dickens mashup Bleak Expectations, which was seen at the Watermill Theatre in 2022, officially opens May 18 following previews that began May 3 at the Criterion Theatre.
Directed by Caroline Leslie, the production is currently scheduled through September 3.
The ensemble includes Ashh Blackwood as Agnes Bin/Flora Dies-Early, Shane David-Joseph as Thomas Bin/Blakewell Havertwitch/Broadly Fecund, J.J. Henry as Harry Biscuit, John Hopkins as Gently Benevolent, Dom Hodson as Pip Bin, Serena Manteghi as Pippa Bin, Marc Pickering as The Hardthrashers, and Rachel Summers as Poppy Bin/Ripely Fecund.
This stage adaptation of the award-winning BBC Radio 4 comedy features a guest star each week in the role of Sir Philip (“Pip”) Bin. The lineup includes Nina Wadia (who performed May 3-7), Dermot O’Leary (who performed May 9-14), Sally Phillips (now through May 21), Robert Lindsay (May 23-28), Sue Perkins (May 30-June 4), Julian Clary (June 6-11), Adjoa Andoh (June 13-18), Craig Ferguson (June 20-25), Lee Mack (June 27-July 2), Stephen Mangan (July 4-9), Jo Brand (July 11-16), Tom Allen (July 18-23), Jack Dee (July 25-30), Alexander Armstrong (August 1-6), Stephen Fry (August 8-13), Ben Miller (August 15-20), and Nish Kumar (August 29-September 3).
Bleak Expectations follows young Pip’s exploits with sisters Pippa and Poppy plus best friend Harry Biscuit as they attempt to escape the clutches of the dastardly Mr. Gently Benevolent, defeat the Hardthrasher siblings, and deflect disaster at every turn.
The production also has designs by Katie Lias, lighting design by Andrew Exeter, music by composer Tom Piggott Smith, sound design by Ella Wahlström, movement direction by Joyce Henderson, and casting by Lucy Jenkins and Sooki McShane.
Bleak Expectations is produced in the West End by Anthology Theatre Productions, Glass Half Full Productions, Patrick Gracey, David Wolstencroft, and David Mirvish, John Yonover, Ricardo Hornos/Tomas Rottemberg, Richard Winkler/Dawn Smalberg, in association with Act Productions, TC Beech, and Marianne Benton and Scott Delman/Florence Sloan.
Click here for ticket information.
