Hard Times: For These Times
from the novel by Charles Dickens, adapted by Peter Malin
Date & Time: Saturday 28 November – 4pm performance and livestream on YouTube
Watch here!
https://youtu.be/5kJXUXOFYeM
Hard Times: For These Times, Dickens’ shortest novel, feels particularly apt right now as we focus on facts and alternative facts. It is set in the fictional northern town of Coketown in the 1850s when ‘muck was brass’ and Victorian society worshipped at the high altar of commerce. There was no time for sentiment or feeling and the imagination was shunned. It is a story full of memorable Dickens characters – Mr Gradgrind, Sissy Jupe and a group of circus performers led by the unforgettable Slearys.
OTG member Peter Malin’s adaptation loses none of the biting satire of the novel or the comedy invested in the characters.
CREW
Director Ruth Readshaw
Sound and Music Jeannie Harrison
Musicians Jeannie Harrison, Mark Prowen, Joseph Prowen, Sally Cheng
Technical Production Will Penington
Hats Oxfordshire Drama Wardrobe and Ruth Readshaw
Props Peter Malin and cast
Photography Richard Readshaw
CAST
THOMAS GRADGRIND M.P. of Stone Lodge Richard Readshaw
JANE GRADGRIND his wife Victoria Wilson
LOUISA Charlie Morgan
TOM their children Tom Mason
JANE Anna Clark
MR McCHOAKUMCHILD schoolteachers Gavin Gaughan
MRS McCHOAKUMCHILD Fleur Yerbury-Hodgson
JOSIAH BOUNDERBY mill owner and banker Ian Nutt
MRS SPARSIT his housekeeper Fleur Yerbury-Hodgson
MARY his maid Barbara Denton
MAID at the bank Anna Clark
STEPHEN BLACKPOOL a worker in Bounderby’s mill Craig Finlay
ROSE BLACKPOOL his wife Lizzie McHale
RACHAEL his friend Anna Clark
LANDLADY Victoria Wilson
SLACKBRIDGE a union official Colin Macnee
CHAIRMAN of union meeting Gavin Gaughan
BITZER a local youth Liz McHale
MRS PEGLER an old woman Barbara Denton
JAMES HARTHOUSE a gentleman Josh Wedge
WAITER at the hotel Colin Macnee
MR SLEARY a circus proprietor Colin Macnee
MRS SLEARY his wife Barbara Denton
JOSEPHINE their daughter Fleur Yerbury-Hodgson
SISSY JUPE an abandoned circus child Ruth Walker
Circus acts
MR E.W.B. CHILDERS Craig Finlay
MR KIDDERMINSTER Gavin Gaughan
MLLE GENEVIEVE (later MRS KIDDERMINSTER) Anna Clark
MR GORDON the clown Lizzie McHale
EMMA GORDON Victoria Wison
THE LITTLE WONDER Ian Nutt
MERRYLEGS a dog Merry
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