[AD – PR*]
★★★★
Terence Rattigan and John Gielgud’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities is the latest Marlowe Theatre production, a year on from Amy Rosenthal’s The Party Girls. Premiering in Kent ahead of a national tour, this production is directed by Michael Fentiman and sees a cast of eleven bring an adaptation of Dickens’ tale of love, loyalty and politics to life on stage. This week I had the opportunity to watch the production on press night here in Canterbury and I was impressed by both the impactful nature of the piece and the innovation in the visual design.
About the play
A Tale of Two Cities takes place in both London and Paris in the late 18th-century, specifically the years prior to the French Revolution and the period itself. The story centres on lawyer Sydney Carton, noble-born Charles Darnay and Lucie Manette, the daughter of a French doctor who was imprisoned for a long time. The events follow their shared encounters and personal trajectories during this time of societal and political change and explore the topic of social inequality.
Complexity of the narrative
It goes without saying that this is a complex piece of theatre, taking audiences through Dickens’ story in just two hours plus an interval. This interpretation is also incredibly visual and physical, utilising fluid movement as a storytelling method. Given the amount of symbolism throughout and the extensive connections between the characters, prior knowledge of the source material is beneficial, especially at the very start, as it drives so much of the future narrative. Even though I haven’t read the novel, I had knowledge of the synopsis and characters going in and without this I’d have found it slightly tricky to keep up with every detail. It’s just the nature of presenting such an epic piece with so many pivotal plot points, you risk overwhelming a new audience. Where the material truly soars though is the combination of both English and French dialogue and the creative video captioning in the Paris-based scenes. It is one of many examples of how the piece is authentic to the setting and time period.
Cast performances
The company is led by Samuel Collings as Sydney Carton and the Marquis de St. Evrémonde, two characters of completely contrasting intent. A standout is Collings’ performance as the admirable Sydney Carton and the final monologue leaves such a lasting impact on the audience. It goes without saying that the whole cast contributes to the success of the piece though, bringing so much drama and passion to each of the scenes.
Captivating visual design
Max Jones’ set design is really inspired, adding a contemporary flair to such a classic story. Combined with Ben Jacobs’ lighting design and imaginative video design from Nina Dunn for PixelLux, it is obvious throughout how emotionally and politically charged this piece is and you can feel the intensity from the visual design. There is a limited physical set, but this is to the production’s strength as it guides audience focus to the characters who are so fundamental to the narrative.
Powerful and extremely moving
Atmospheric and thought-provoking, A Tale of Two Cities is a courageous production from the venue which is sure to encourage conversation long after leaving the theatre. It also delicately balances a period story with modern visual design and moving sound design, proving that taking a bold stance creatively can really pay off. The show closes in Canterbury on Saturday 19th September, before embarking on a UK tour across various regional venues until Spring 2027, specifically Leeds Playhouse, Theatre Royal Bath, Cheltenham Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre, Edinburgh King’s Theatre and Theatre Clwyd. Head to each of the venue’s websites to purchase tickets.
*My ticket for A Tale of Two Cities was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
Comments