Great Expectations by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

From humble beginnings in the marshlands of Kent, young Pip is determined to make strides in the big city and get a leg-up in society. Pip is quickly caught up in a world of compelling characters – the elderly jilted bride Miss Haversham, the criminal Magwitch and alluring Estella. Can our ambitious protagonist realise his dreams or will life inevitably present itself with obstacles and trickery?

Abounding in trademark Dickensian humour, this wry coming-of-age story has been a landmark of English Literature since its publication in 1861 and continues to charm readers to this day.

Teeming with eccentricity, fearsome convicts, stopped clocks, decay and decadence, Jo Clifford’s adaptation breathes new life into this beloved tale, and vividly is brought to the stage by director Jenny Stephens and students from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Opened in 1946 by Laurence Olivier, the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School has grown a reputation for attracting the very best in young acting talent and, as such, has some notable alumni to its name including Daniel Day Lewis, Greta Scacchi, Peter O’Toole, Olivia Colman and many more. The School’s annual visit to Dorset has always been a firm favourite on the Artsreach programme and we are delighted to welcome them back this summer for the first time since 2019!