The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Novel by Charles Dickens
Adapted by David Edgar
The third and final run of the show at the Aldwych Theatre in the spring and summer of 1981 led straight on to the show being filmed at the Old Vic Theatre followed by a fourteen week run at The Plymouth Theatre on Broadway, opening on the 22nd September 1981.
The show was produced in New York by Elizabeth Ireland McCann & Nell Nugent in partnership with the Schubert Organisation and Jimmy Nederlander.
Creative Team
| Adaptation by | David Edgar |
| Directed by | Trevor Nunn and John Caird |
| Assistant Director | Leon Rubin |
| Designer | John Napier & Dermot Hayes |
| Costumes designed by | John Napier & Andy Neofitou |
| Lighting by | David Hersey |
| Music and Music & Lyrics by | Stephen Oliver |
| Designers assisted by | John Thompson |
Cast
| The characters and the actors who played them are only named in the sections of the play in which they first appear. | |
| THE NICKLEBY FAMILY | |
| Nicholas Nickleby | Roger Rees |
| Kate Nickleby | Emily Richard |
| Ralph Nickleby | John Woodvine |
| Mrs Nickleby | Jane Downs |
| LONDON | |
| Newman Noggs | Edward Petherbridge |
| Hannah | Hilary Townley |
| Miss La Creevy | Rose Hill |
| Sir Matthew Pupker | David Lloyd Meredith |
| Mr Bonney | Andrew Hawkins |
| Irate Gentleman | Patrick Godfrey |
| Flunkey | Timothy Kightley |
| Muffin Boys | Ian East/Ian McNiece |
| Mr Snawley | William Maxwell |
| Snawley Major | Janet Dale |
| Snawley Minor | Hilary Townley |
| Belling | Stephen Rashbrook |
| William | John McEnery |
| Waitresses | Sharon Bower/Sally Nesbit |
| Coachman | Clyde Pollitt |
| Mr Mantalini | John McEnery |
| Madame Mantalini | Thelma Whiteley |
| Flunkey | Griffith Jones |
| Miss Knag | Janet Dale |
| Rich Ladies | Sharon Bower/Shirley King |
| Milliners | Suzanne Bertish/Sharon Bower/Ian East/Lucy Gutteridge/Cathryn Harrison/William Maxwell/Sally Nesbit/Stephen Rashbrook/Hilary Townley |
| YORKSHIRE | |
| Mr Squeers | Alun Armstrong |
| Mrs Squeers | Lila Kaye |
| Smike | David Threlfall |
| Phib | Sally Nesbit |
| Fanny Squeers | Suzanne Bertish |
| Young Wackford Squeers | Ian McNiece |
| John Browdie | Bob Peck |
| Tilda Price | Cathryn Harrison |
| DOTHEBOYS BOYS | |
| Tomkins | William Maxwell |
| Coates | Andrew Hawkins |
| Graymarsh | Alan Gill |
| Jennings | Patrick Godfrey |
| Mobbs | Christopher Ravenscroft |
| Bolder | Mark Tandy |
| Pitcher | Sharon Bower |
| Jackson | Nicholas Gecks |
| Cobbey | John McEnery |
| Peters | Teddy Kempner |
| Sprouter | Lucy Gutteridge |
| Roberts | Ian East |
| LONDON AGAIN | |
| Mr Kenwigs | Patrick Godfrey |
| Mrs Kenwigs | Shirley King |
| Morleena Kenwigs | Hilary Townley |
| Mr Lilyvick | Timothy Kightley |
| Miss Petowker | Cathryn Harrison |
| Mr Crowl | Ian East |
| George | Alan Gill |
| Mr Cutler | Jeffery Dench |
| Mrs Cutler | Janet Dale |
| Mrs Kenwigs’ Sister | Sharon Bower |
| Stout Lady | Rose Hill |
| Miss Green | Jane Downs |
| Benjamin | Teddy Kempner |
| Pugstyles | Roderick Horn |
| Old Lord | Griffith Jones |
| Young Fiancée | Lucy Gutteridge |
| Landlord | Jeffery Dench |
| PORTSMOUTH | |
| Mr Vincent Crummles | Christopher Benjamin |
| Mrs Crummles | Lila Kaye |
| The Infant Phenomenon | Hilary Townley |
| Master Percy Crummles | Teddy Kempner |
| Master Crummles | Mark Tandy |
| Mrs Grudden | Rose Hill |
| Miss Snevellicci | Suzanne Bertish |
| Mr Folair | Clyde Pollitt |
| Mr Lenville | Christopher Ravenscroft |
| Miss Ledrock | Lucy Gutteridge |
| Miss Bravassa | Sharon Bower |
| Mr Wagstaff | Alun Armstrong |
| Mr Blightey | Jeffery Dench |
| Miss Belvawney | Janet Dale |
| Miss Gazingi | Sally Nesbit |
| Mr Pailey | William Maxwell |
| Mr Hetherington | Andrew Hawkins |
| Mr Bane | Stephen Rashbrook |
| Mr Fluggers | Griffith Jones |
| Mrs Lenville | Shirley King |
| Mr Curdle | Hubert Rees |
| Mrs Curdle | Emily Richard |
| Mr Snevellicci | John McEnery |
| Mrs Snevellicci | Thelma Whiteley |
| LONDON AGAIN | |
| Scaley | Ian McNiece |
| Tix | Teddy Kempner |
| Sir Mulberry Hawk | Bob Peck |
| Lord Frederick Verisopht | Nicholas Gecks |
| Mr Pluck | Teddy Kempner |
| Mr Pyke | Mark Tandy |
| Mr Snobb | Christopher Ravenscroft |
| Colonel Chowser | Timothy Kightley |
| Brooker | Clyde Pollitt |
| Mr Wititterley | Roderick Horn |
| Mrs Wititterley | Janet Dale |
| Alphonse | Stephen Rashbrook |
| Opera Singers | Sharon Bower/Andrew Hawkins/John Woodvine |
| Charles Cheeryble | David Lloyd Meredith |
| Ned Cheeryble | Hubert Rees |
| Tim Linkinwater | Griffith Jones |
| The Man Next Door | Patrick Godfrey |
| Keeper | Alan Gill |
| Frank Cheeryble | Christopher Ravenscroft |
| Nurse | Thelma Whiteley |
| Madeline Bray | Lucy Gutteridge |
| Arthur Gride | Jeffery Dench |
| Walter Bray | Christopher Benjamin |
| Peg Sliderskew | Suzanne Bertish |
| Hawks’ Rival | Edward Petherbridge |
| Captain Adams | Andrew Hawkins |
| Westwood | Alan Gill |
| Croupier | Ian McNiece |
| Surgeon | Timothy Kightley |
| Umpire | Roderick Horn |
| Policemen | Andrew Hawkins/Mark Tandy |
| Mrs Snawley | Janet Dale |
| Young Woman | Hilary Townley |
| All other parts played by members of the company. | |