David Copperfield by Charles Dickens adapted by Abigail Pickard Price. Jermyn Street Theatre, 16b Jermyn Street, London until 20 December 2025. 5☆☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.
Photo Credit: Steve Gregson.
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens adapted by Abigail Pickard Price. Jermyn Street Theatre, 16b Jermyn Street, London until 20 December 2025.
5☆☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.
“A copper-bottomed sure-fire hit.”
Splendidly performed by a cast of three, directed with style by Abigail Pickard Price and very funny this stage version of Charles Dickens' novel originally published in serial form in 1849 is true to the novel, which was a favourite of the author, while allowing all sorts of mayhem to take place on stage. As Copperfield Eddy Payne creates an appealing central figure while Luke Barton and Louise Beresford play everyone else with breathtaking energy. David Copperfield is best known probably for the villain of the tale, Uriah Heap, and while it has been filmed several times, notably a 1989 television version with a cast of everyone who was anybody in the British theatre at the time from Olivier to Richardson it is not among his best loved or arguably his finest books, but this adaptation by Abigail Pickard Price manages to create a story that holds one's attention as the inevitable throng of people strut the stage and then vanish only to reappear at later stages of our hero's life, some of which is apparently autobiographical as David does become a writer. It could have descended into a jolly romp as the ways Barton and Beresford are given to conjure up the parade of Dickensian people they play become ever more outrageous but actually it remains a story well told about a young man making his way in the world, partly because of the way Payne creates his Copperfield. Maybe act two gets a little sticky – one begins to want the happy ending to occur as villains meet their just deserts and David finds his true love - but that is to quibble. David Copperfield is not anyone's idea of the basis for a seasonal show – this is no Oliver – but it turns out to be a really good night out with a clever set – three platforms of different sizes are put to imaginative use – and imaginative costumes, the child bride's dog in particular is a creation to marvel at and steals its scenes with ease. Unmissable is the word for this copper-bottomed play.
Cast
Eddy Payne – David Copperfield
Luke Barton – Peggoty, Ham, Mr Creakle, Mr Murdstone, Mr Micawber, Mr Spenlow, Mr Wickfield, Mrs Steerforth, Mr Dick
Louise Beresford – Mrs Betsey, Mother, Steerforth, Mrs Micawber, Emily, Uriah Heep, Dora, Mr Pegotty, Agnes
Creatives
Director – Abigail Pickard Price
Movement Director – Amy Lawrence
Set & Costume Designer – Neil Irish
Associate Designer & Costume Supervisor – Anett Black
Lighting Designer – Mark Dymock
Sound Designer – Matt Eaton.
Fight Director – Philip D'Orleans
Theatre, play 25 November 2025
Photo Credit – Steve Gregson.
