Production Notes for David Copperfield (National Revival)

Welcome to David Copperfield and Eastern Angles’ return to national touring. Ten years ago we gave up venturing outside our own region because looking after the four counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire was quite enough and we were already expanding into 2 and 3 night residencies and site-specific plans for our Sutton Hoo extravaganza, The Wuffings.

Now with new touring monies (Arts Council) and equipment (Lottery) we can send out two tours at once and serve both our regional constituency, with The Last Laugh now touring to rural communities, and England and Wales with this revival of our acclaimed 1995 production.

As our name suggests we enjoy exploring the unique character of East Anglia and David Copperfield had long been on my list because of its Great Yarmouth connection. Then, on re-reading it, I realised what a great assemblage of Dickens’ most marvellous characters it boasted; and, after offering it to Alastair to adapt, he turned round and described it as a great tale of marriage and relationships. From that point on I knew it had to have a bed at the heart of it.

It is particularly exciting to be reviving this, one of our most warmly remembered shows, and to be finding new audiences across the country with it, in this very special year as we celebrate 21 years of Eastern Angles. Our survival may not be a patch on Dickens’ longevity, but we’ve made a start! We hope you will echo Micawber’s call to David “You must go on! Go on, my dear sir, on your eagle’s course!”

Ivan Cutting - Artistic Director