Hard Times
A Musical
From an original concept by Charles Lisanby
Book by John Caird & Ranjit Bolt
Lyrics by Ranjit Bolt
Music by John Cameron
From the novel by Charles Dickens
This is a very fine musical theatre adaptation of Dickens’ novel Hard Times that has never been produced. It is crying out for some enterprising theatre Producer or Artistic Director to give it its world première performance.
The show can be played by 12 principal performers - 7 men and 5 women - with a further company of 4 doubling the minor roles. This ensemble can also play the children in Gradgrind’s school, or real children can be used if preferred.
You can listen to a selection of the music by clicking here. If you would like to peruse the script please contact John Caird.
Characters
Thomas Gradgrind, MP, Member of Parliament for Coketown
Mrs Gradgrind, his wife
Tom Gradgrind, their son
Louisa Gradgrind, their daughter, later Bounderby’s wife
Sissy Jupe, living in the Gradgrind household
Josiah Bounderby, banker and mill-owner in Coketown
Mrs Sparsit, his housekeeper
Bitzer, porter in Bounderby’s bank
Stephen Blackpool, one of Bounderby’s hands
Joseph Sleary, a circus-owner
James Harthouse, a cad
A mysterious Old Woman
Mr M’Choakumchild, schoolmaster
Mr Pounder, Schools Commissioner
Dr Outhwaite
A Waiter at the Royal Hotel, Coketown
A Maid, in the Gradgrind household
A Maid, in the Bounderby household
Pupils of Coketown school
Members of Sleary’s circus
Highlights CD Cast
Bitzer | Paul Baker |
Harthouse | Graham Bickley |
Gradgrind, Blackpool & Sleary | John Cameron |
Tom | Richard Henders |
Louisa/Mrs Sparsit | Helen Hobson |
Sissy Jupe | Rebecca Locke |
Mrs Gradgrind | Gay Soper |
Bounderby | Stephen Tate |
Schoolchildren | Brittany Brownlee, Amy Cameron & Sid Sagar |