The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Part 1

Summary

1982 Channel 4 presentation of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, David Edgar’s stage adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel. Presented in four parts on subsequent Sundays. Produced in association with RM Productions.

Theatre play

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby by David Edgar [more information]

Play synopsis

'Edgar’s writing for the stage is avowedly political and his treatment of Dickens’s novel, with its descriptions of poverty and as its central subject matter the wickedness of money-broker Ralph Nickleby, sought to draw parallels between the social conditions of 1830s Britain with what he saw as the growing political climate of selfishness in the 1980s.' Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Life_and_Adventures_of_Nicholas_Nickleby_%28play%29.

Production history

'The opening night was on 5 June 1980. The show ran for an 8-week season at the Aldwych Theatre, playing Part 1 on some nights and Part 2 on others with both parts playing together on matinée and evening performances. It was revived for two further 8-week runs at the Aldwych in the autumn season of 1980 and the spring season of 1981 before being filmed for Primetime TV at the Old Vic Theatre and transferring to Broadway for the autumn season of 1981. A further revival with a substantially different cast played at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford and toured to Los Angeles and Broadway in 1985.' Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Life_and_Adventures_of_Nicholas_Nickleby_%28play%29.

Date of transmission

Sunday 7 November 1982

Time

7.00-9.00pm

Channel

Channel 4

Production company

Primetime Television

Theatre company

Royal Shakespeare Company

Credits

Director

Jim Goddard

Producer

Colin Callender

Playwright

David Edgar

Book by

Charles Dickens

Music

Stephen Oliver

Lyrics

Stephen Oliver

Designer

John Napier

Cast

Alun Armstrong	Mr Squeers
Christopher Benjamin	Walter Bray
Suzanne Bertish	Milliner / Fanny Squeers
Sharon Bower	Waitress / Rich Lady / Milliner / Pitcher
Janet Dale	Snawley Mjr
Jane Downs	Mrs Nickleby
Ian East	Milliner / Roberts
Nicholas Gecks	Jackson
Alan Gill	Graymarsh
Patrick Godfrey	Irate Gentleman / Jennings
Lucy Gutteridge	Milliner / Sprouter
Cathryn Harrison	Milliner / Tilda Price
Andrew Hawkins	Mr Bonney / Coates
Rose Hill	Miss La Creevy
Griffith Jones	Flunkey
Lila Kaye	Mrs Squeers
Teddy Kempner	Peters
Timothy Kightley	Flunkey
Shirley King	Rich Lady
William Maxwell	Mr Snawley / Milliner / Tomkins
John McEnery	William / Mr Mantalini / Cobbey
Ian McNeice	Young Wackford Squeers
David Lloyd Meredith	Sir Matthew Pupker
Sally Nesbitt	Waitress / Phib / Milliner
Bob Peck	John Browdie
Edward Petherbridge	Newman Noggs
Clyde Pollitt	Coachman / Brooker
Stephen Rashbrook	Belling / Milliner
Christopher Ravenscroft	Mobbs
Roger Rees	Nicholas Nickleby
Emily Richard	Kate Nickleby
Mark Tandy	Bolder
David Threlfall	Smike
Hilary Townley	Hannah / Milliner
Thelma Whiteley	Mme Mantalini
John Woodvine	Ralph Nickleby

Additional details

Play tags

19th-century setting; adaptation of novel

Print sources

Title

TV Times, 4 November 1982 (Magazine)

Linking notes

long article, pp. 4-10; listing, p. 53

Associated programmes

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Part 2 (Primetime Television, 1982)
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby by David Edgar
Channel 4

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Part 3 (Primetime Television, 1982)
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby by David Edgar
Channel 4

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Part 4 (Primetime Television, 1982)
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby by David Edgar
Channel 4