David Copperfield
Left to right: Eddy Payne, Luke Barton, Louise Beresford. Photo: Steve Gregson
Review by Martine Silkstone
Having loved their performance of Pride and Prejudice last year, it was with great expectations (see what I did there) that I headed to New Wolsey in Ipswich last night for the Guildford Shakespeare Company adaptation of ‘David Copperfield’.
And what a joy it was!
In this touring production, a cast of three (yes - just three!) takes on the well-known Dickens classic, with two of them playing so many roles it is hard to count.
If you are not a Dickens fan (and missed The Personal History of David Copperfield movie in 2019 - brilliant and well worth a watch), then let me outline the rather complex narrative…
Basically, David has grown up to be an author and is telling us the colourful story of his life.
Born in Suffolk, he spends his early years at The Rookery with his loving mother and their kindly housekeeper, Peggotty. Then, while he is away visiting Peggotty’s family in Gt Yarmouth, his mother marries the stern and unpleasant Mr Murdstone. Soon after, David is sent away to school where he makes friends with James Steerforth, whom he greatly admires.
When David’s mother dies, Murdstone sends him off to work and he stays with the loveable-but-financially-unstable Mr Micawber and his family, before running away to Devon and the home of his only living relative, Betsey Trotwood. From there, he goes to school and lodges with the rather-too-fond-of-port Mr Wickfield and his daughter Agnes. But the devious Uriah Heep is also in residence, and he is plotting to take over Wickfield’s legal business.
Meanwhile, the older David trains to be a proctor, during which he falls in love with sweet Dora.
By the end, there are shenanigans a-plenty, including a wicked seduction, more than one sad demise, new lives founded abroad and a happy ending for some…and donkeys!
Photo: Steve Gregson
Now, I have really only picked out the bare bones of the tale, and it still seems pretty complicated right? So how on earth can it work on stage with just three actors?
I don’t know - but it does.
Yes, they have understandably abridged the story, but it has been beautifully adapted by Abigail Pickard Price (who also directs), keeping all the main characters and ensuring the overarching narrative is still clear.
It really is a marvel to see how it is done. In fact, even if you are not a Dickens fan, it is worth watching this play just to witness the company’s clever creativity.
Simple staging means you are transported to each location with the movement of a few chests, images and signs, with floaty blue fabric doubling as the Norfolk coast - both clever and wonderful.
Then you have the acting talent of the three on stage.
Using all the tools at their professional disposal, they change coats, accents and physicality to inhabit and clearly define each role. In some cases they use puppetry or even just a hat on a stick, but you are completely on board, such is the charisma and skill of their performance.
Indeed, I love that they trust the audience - trust their imagination; trust their ability to fill in the gaps; trust that they are along for the ride.
Which isn’t to say that it is hard work, quite the contrary. This is Dickens for all - highly entertaining, often funny and yet with enough darkness and emotion to stay true to the original text.
Photo: Steve Gregson
Eddy Payne holds everything together as our hero, David Copperfield, skilfully taking us on his journey from small boy to family man, while also providing narration throughout.
Then you have the talented Louise Beresford, who covers a wealth of characters - from the arrogant Steerforth to sly Uriah Heep to sweet Dora and so many more - while making it look deceptively easy.
And finally there’s Luke Barton, who has such charisma and presence in all of his roles, including both the lovely Pegotty and my personal favourite, Mr Micawber (such a way with words).
All of them change in the blink of an eye, on stage and off, using the donning of a hat or coat to enhance their own skill in telling this story.
Bravo.
I left feeling uplifted and impressed and, well, just happy to have been given the opportunity to see these individuals at work once more.
Angry Note: We so nearly made it! The play was coming to an end and all the threads were being neatly tied together as our cast played out the most emotional scene of the night. The room was quiet and audience captivated as we finally learned the fate of each character. The perfect theatrical experience I thought. But no. As always seems to happen at some point during proceedings these days, someone’s phone rang loudly and for quite a while as the owner desperately tried to work out how to make it stop. Here’s a thought - TURN IT OFF BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN! Not on silent, not on vibrate, but OFF. If you are expecting a call or message that is really so urgent that it can’t wait for an hour, you shouldn’t be at the theatre. Kudos to the cast who managed to maintain the drama despite the rude interruption.
David Copperfield at New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich until 31 January 2026.
FOR SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE