Nick and Smike in Nicholas Nickleby by OTG

Nicholas Nickleby is about the ups and downs of life, the trials and tribulations, but ultimately it is a story of hope and I really felt that we deserved that this year.”

So speaks Oxford Theatre Guild‘s Hedda Bird, director of this year’s production at Oxford Playhouse which opens on Tuesday.

OTG Nicholas Nickleby – Mantalini

Yes, after two years, Oxford Theatre Guild is finally able to perform again at Oxford Playhouse and is bringing you this Dickensian epic with its strong helping of redemption.

“the idea that the theatre rescues them is just fabulous”

So why Nicholas Nickleby and why now? “We were looking for something exciting for our return to Oxford Playhouse because we haven’t been able to perform there for two years now because of Covid.

OTG Nicholas Nickleby. Pluck and Pyke

“And because we have been through dark times as well as good, we wanted something upbeat and cheerful, something that provides pure escapism.

And when I saw Armando Iannucci’s film David Copperfield, I knew we could do things differently, so our Nicholas Nickleby is performed by The Crummles theatre troupe, who adopt Nicholas in the novel.

“FUNDAMENTALLY, THIS IS ABOUT A FAMILY FINDING THEIR WAY THROUGH DESTITUTION AND BACK TO WARMTH, SECURITY AND A HOME, WHICH HAS REAL RESONANCE”

“It also means that to reflect the #MeToo movement this is as much about Nicholas’ sister Kate (who is often written out in adaptions entirely), and the problems she faces in London as various men try to procure and seduce her,” Hedda adds.

OTG Nicholas Nickleby. Kate Nickleby

“We are running it as a play within a play which means we can have more diverse roles, because Dickens’ wonderful characters were crying out for a multi-handed, multi-charactered approach, so this enables our cast of 20 to play 45 roles between them.

“It’s absolutely mega – it’s like freewheeling on a helter skelter”

“But fundamentally, this is about a family finding their way through destitution and back to warmth, security and a home, which has real resonance. And the idea that the theatre rescues them is just fabulous.”

Which sounds amazing but ambitious? “It’s absolutely mega,” Hedda laughs “it’s like freewheeling on a helter skelter, but The Playhouse are so helpful and accommodating.

OTG Nicholas Nickleby Mr Squeers

“Besides it’s OTG’s 70th anniversary this year, so we needed to come up with something really high calibre.

“And with so many hugely talented people involved, lots of whom are ex-professionals, we were still astounded by the number of people who auditioned. It was really encouraging.

OTG Nicholas Nickleby: Crummles

“So yes, it is enormously ambitious, but I’m very excited. Nicholas Nickleby seems the perfect way of celebrating theatre and has a deeply satisfying ending fun of heart tugs. Dickens doesn’t shy away that, instead he rolls with it to show the real resilience of the human spirit.”

Nicholas Nickleby is at Oxford Playhouse from Tuesday 8- Saturday 12 March, with tickets from £10. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/nicholas-nickleby