Convinced of the utilitarian philosophy of ‘fact’ Mr Gradgrind brings up his children, Louisa and Tom, on this principle and spreads his ideals more widely through the school that he has established.
Their imagination and sense of beauty starved by their harsh upbringing, both Louisa and Tom become discontented and in different ways their lives come to disaster. Tom robs the bank for which he works and is forced to flee the country, while Louisa makes a loveless marriage to Mr Bounderby, a local businessman and friend of her father. Almost succumbing to the charms of the upper-class philanderer James Harthouse, Louisa leaves her husband and returns home...
Bitzer – a star pupil at Gradgrind’s school – also illustrates the harm of Gradgrind’s system of education, proving to be selfish and ungrateful. Sissy, brought up in the circus but taken in by Gradgrind, remains untouched by the influence of her schooling and her natural goodness and instinctive wisdom enable her to help both Louisa and Tom through their difficulties.
Meanwhile, mill-worker Stephen Blackpool struggles to obtain a divorce from his drunken wife so that he might be free to marry the woman he loves. By refusing to join a trade union Stephen is ostracised by his fellow workers and then falsely accused of the bank robbery committed by Tom. While his innocence is eventually proved it is not until after he has met his death in a disused mineshaft.
Through the events of the play Mr Gradgrind is brought to see the error of his teachings, and becomes a sadder but much wiser man.
Production Photos
Photographs by Robert Day
Press Quotes and Reviews
“One of our best national touring companies”
The Times
“Accessible feel good theatre at it’s best”
The Guardian
“The quartet of actors do justice to Dickens’ manic energies”
The Guardian
“Excellent… enjoyable… wickedly funny”
The Guardian
“Neil Irish’s design conveys a sense of back-breaking toil”
The Guardian
“The cast of four play 18 characters and it was in this that their remarkable abilities emerged”
Livepool Echo
“talented… superb … an impressive production”
Livepool Echo
“Chris Madin’s music added to the dynamics”
Livepool Echo
“An uplifting theatrical experience”
Sheffield Star
Cast
Sonia Beck
- Beck Sissy Jupe, Mrs Gradgrind, Mrs Sparsit, Rachael, Mary Stokes
Simon Harvey
- Mr Gradgrind, Tom Gradgrind, Stephen Blackpool, Waiter
Verity Hewlett
- Louisa Gradgrind, Emma Gordon, Mrs Blackpool, Mrs Pegler, Chairwoman
Michael Onslow
- Mr Bounderby, Sleary, Bitzer, James Harthouse, Slackbridge
Production Credits
Artistic Director
- Neil Sissons
Director of Hard Times
- Gareth Tudor Price
Designer
- Neil Irish
Composer
- Christopher Madin
Lighting Design
- Paul Colley
Technical Stage Manager
- Simon Spearing
Stage Manager
- Craig R Chapman
Set Construction
- David Shakarian and Norman Mills
Set Painting
- Joanne Ellis
Costume Maker
- Juliette Berry
Poster and Print Design
- Iain Lanyon
Production Photography
- Robert Day
Programme & Web Design
- Un.titled
Press Representation
- Indira Quiney & Rachel Thompson
Education Officer
- Meg Jepson
General Manager
- Craig Dronfield
Administrative Assistant
- Samantha Richardson
Tour Schedule
Wed 27 – Sat 30 September 2000
- Liverpool Everyman Theatre
Mon 2 October 2000
- Gainsborough Trinity Arts Centre
Tues 3 & Wed 4 October 2000
- Chipping Norton The Theatre
Thurs 5 & Fri 6 October 2000
- Oundle Stahl Theatre
Tues 10 – Sat 14 October 2000
- Sheffield Crucible Studio
Mon 16 October 2000
- Solihull Arts Complex
Tues 17 & Wed 18 October 2000
- Loughborough Town Hall
Thurs 19 October 2000
- Wimbourne Layard Theatre
Fri 20 October 2000
- Portsmouth New Theatre Royal
Sat 21 October 2000
- Tunbridge Wells Trinity Theatre
Mon 23 & Tues 24 October 2000
- Wimbledon Theatre
Wed 25 – Sat 28 October 2000
- Stratford-Upon-Avon The Other Place
Tues 31 October 2000
- Derby Guildhall Theatre
Wed 1 & Thurs 2 November 2000
- Wolverhampton Arena Theatre
Friday 3 November 2000
- Cambridge Mumford Theatre
Sat 4 November 2000
- Chelmsford Civic Theatre
Tues 7 – Sat 11 November 2000
- Hull Truck Theatre
Tues 14 November 2000
- Musselburgh Brunton Theatre
Wed 15 November 2000
- Alnwick The Playhouse
Thurs16 – Sat 18 November 2000
- Stockton On Tees A R C
Mon 20 & Tues 21 November 2000
- Rotherham Civic Theatre
Wed 22 & Thurs 23 November 2000
- Wakefield Theatre Royal & Opera House
Fri 24 & Sat 25 November 2000
- Stamford Arts Centre
Mon 27 – Wed 29 November 2000
- Eastbourne Devonshire Park Theatre
Tues 5 December 2000
- Oldham Sixth Form College
Wed 6 & Thurs 7 December 2000
- Canterbury Gulbenkian Theatre
Fri 8 December 2000
- St Albans Maltings Arts Theatre
Mon 11 – Sat 16 December 2000
- Bath Ustinov Studio