The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (Part 1)

There have been several film version of Nicholas Nickleby including an  Ealing classic version, an animated version and most recently a  Hollywood feature film starring Jamie Bell (Smike) and Charlie Hunnam  (Nicholas) in which the location for the infamouse Dotheboys Hall was  Gibson Mill in the local beauty spot Hardcastle Crags. Several local  boys were involved as extras including three from our casts; Dean (Ralph Nickleby in Part II), Daniel (Smike in Part I) and  Michael (Crowl and Mr Blightey in Part II). They were involved  in several night shoots and were all suitably terrified by the actor Jim  Broadbent's portrayal of Wackford Squeers.

This stage adaption of  Nicholas Nickleby was originally presented in June 1980 by the Royal  Shakespere Company at the Aldwych Theatre in London. The production  transfered to Broadway and was also televised for Channel 4. The plays  were a result of five weeks of discussions, workshops and experiments  undertaken by the 45 members of the RSC under the direction of Trevor  Nunn and John Caird.