Royal
Exchange
Theatre
Introducing
Great
Expectations
BY CHARLES DICKENS
ADAPTED BY JAMES MAXWELL
for young people
and their families
Sponsored by
INSIDE!
Activities
The Plot
Interviews And
Much More…
?
.
.
.
t
o
N
Why
?
’s pantry
scriptions of Mrs Joe
Read the following de
m
fro
visham’s dining room
kitchen and Miss Ha
.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
? Read the following descriptions
N PANTRY
MRS JOE’S KITCHEre abundantly supplied
s far mo
“In the pantry, which wa
s very
Christmas season, I wa
the
to
than usual, owing
, whom
els
he
the
by
up
ing
re hang
much alarmed, by a ha
ned,
tur
lf
ha
t, when my back was
I rather thought I caugh
out
ab
,
ese
che
bread, some rind of
ttle,
winking... I stole some
bo
ne
sto
a
m
fro
y
some brand
half a jar of mincemeat,
l
tifu
beau
little meat on it and a
a meat bone with very
compact pork pie.”
DINING ROOM
MISS HAVISHAM’S d entered the room... A
of Magwitch and Miss Havisham
and design the stage costumes
and make up for each
character.
MAGWITCH
“A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron
on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken
shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A
man who had been soaked in water, and smothered
in mud, and lamed by stones and cut by flints, and
stung by nettles, and torn by briars; who limped, and
shivered, and glared and growled.”
landing an
“I crossed the staircase
oned
d in the damp old-fashi
dle
fire had been lately kin
high
the
on
s
dle
nches of can
grate... Certain wintry bra
m was
roo
The
.
er..
mb
cha
ted the
chimneypiece faintly ligh
nd
ha some,
re say had once been
very spacious, and I da
h dust and
wit
d
g in it was covere
but every discernible thin
nent object
mi
pro
st
mo
pieces. The
mould, and dropping to
feast had
table cloth on it, as if a
was a long table with a
cks all
clo
en the house and the
been in preparation wh
with
ng
rhu
cloth was heavily ove
stopped together...The
y
tch
blo
h
wit
rs
de
ed-legged spi
cobwebs... I saw speckl
bodies running on it...”
each room
of what you imagine
Now draw a picture
find in
objects that you would
to look like and the
to create
x
bo
l from a cardboard
them. Cut off a pane
es to
tur
pic
ur
ge and use yo
a proscenium arch sta
. Use
ms
roo
o
tw
the
each of
create a set model for
t the
spare panel to cut ou
the cardboard from the
cutting
By
m.
uired for each roo
props and scenery req
able
be
ll
wi
u
yo
this as a base
out a circle and using
and
ps
pro
the
ce
Pla
.
the round
and
to create a theatre in
se
ba
already made on the
nd
scenery that you have
rou
the
in
e
models look lik
compare what your set
arch stage.
and on a proscenium
? Just
Imagine
MISS HAVISHAM
“She was dressed in rich
materials - satins, and lace, and
silks - all of white. Her shoes
were white. And she had a
long white veil, and she
had bridal flowers in her
hair, but her hair was
white. Some bright
jewels sparkled
on her neck and
on her hands, and
some other
jewels lay
sparkling on
the table... Her
dress hung
lose and her
figure had
shrunk to skin
and bone.”
that you are Magwitch...
on a prison ship travelling to Australia talking to another prisoner about Pip.
How do you describe Pip and what do you tell the other prisoner about your
plans for the future?
that you are Herbert Pocket...
talking to a friend about meeting
Pip. What are your first impressions of Pip and how do you describe him to
your friend?
that you are Biddy...
talking about Joe looking after Pip in the debtors’ prison when he is ill. How
do you describe Joe and his relationship with Pip?
Act out these scenes with a partner.
? With a partner read chapter 1 of GREAT EXPECT
ATIONS. On a sheet of
dialogue in the churc
paper write down in
hyard. Add your own
script form Pip and Ma
stage directions and
with your partner pe
gwitch’s
What do you think sh
rform the scene.
ould happen to Pip an
d Estella at the end of
what should happen
the story? Charles Dic
and wrote more than
kens found it very dif
one ending to the sto
of Satis House and wr
ficult to decide
ry. Continue the story
ite a final chapter sh
after Pip and Estella
owing how they lived
lea
ve the grounds
the
res
t of their lives.
Imagine that you are
staging a production
of GREAT EXPECTATIO
and make a list of all
NS as a school play.
the sound and lighting
Read the following ex
effects that you will
tract from the play
need for the scene.
PIP sees MAGWITCH ge
t into a boat. They row
ou
t
on
to the river.
A four-oared galley com
es from the side of the
river towards them in it
cloak.
are also a steerman an
d a passenger wrapped
like MAGWITCH in a
PIP:
(to MAGWITCH) Keep
quite still.
MAGWITCH:
Trust to me, dear boy.
?
?
The galley manoeuvres
and comes alongside,
rowing when HERBERT
The galley hails PIP’s bo
and STARTOP row, resting
at. PIP answers.
when they rest. The ste
amer is now close.
STEERMAN:
You have a returned tra
nsport there. That’s the
man, wrapped in a clo
and call upon him to sur
ak. His name is Abel Ma
render, and you to ass
gwitch. I apprehend tha
ist.
t man,
The galley runs a stroke
ahead, pulls its oars in,
an
d runs athwart PIP’s bo
MAGWITCH stands, lea
at. The steerman lays his
ns across, and pulls the
hand on MAGWITCH’s
cloak from the passeng
shoulder.
flashing lights of the pa
er in the galley. It is CO
ddle steamer, the smalle
MP
EYS
ON. MAGWITCH seizes
r boat goes under. PIP,
him. In the
are lost in the water. PIP
HERBERT and STARTOP
sees them rolling and
are hauled aboard the
turning together. Lights
ga
lley
by two OFFICERS who
. The two convicts
come up on MAGWITC
lift him to his feet to fac
H lying on the floor, ga
e sentence.
sping for breath, flanked
From the stage versi
on of GREAT EXPECT
ATIONS adapted by Jam
es Maxwell for The Ro
yal Exchange Theatre
Company.
a poster for a stage
? Design
production of GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
Decide which actors will star in the
play as Pip, Joe, Estella and Miss
Havisham. Choose a key moment
from the play and use this to
produce an image for your poster.
On your poster in addition to
advertising the title and the names
of the actors appearing in the play
decide what words and phrases you
will use to describe it.
use
that you are a film director and
a
a row of boxes to produce
wing
storyboard for each of the follo
h
eac
g
pilin
com
ore
(Bef
sequences.
ide
dec
to
d
nee
will
you
ard
ybo
stor
used
on how many cameras will be
a
ide
prov
to
ce
uen
to film each seq
ts).
sho
long
and
ups
e
range of clos
S
B O X
3 The house where
Miss Havisham liveEstella and
4 The author of GR
EXPECTATIONS EAT
5 First name of Pip’s
friend in
London
ANSWERS ON BACK
PAGE.
6 The lawyer who tel
ls Pip he
has inherited a fortun
e
7 The actor playing
Pip
8 The actress playin
g Miss
Havisham
9 The actor playing
Joe
Gargery
10 The Director of GR
EAT
EXPECTATIONS
Magwitch discovering Pip in the
Churchyard
Pip meeting Miss Havisham for
the first time
Pip arriving in London
Pip helping Magwitch escape in
the riverboat
Pip reunited with Joe in the
debtors’ prison
O J
S
R M N L
A D L
P O C N B R S
V
J
T
A
E
I
B V
C F
G K G S
U S
R O
S
E
R F
H C K L
B T
Y
V
I
M J
L
K S
C E
A
I
D N G
I
O R A T
R
H T
The answers to these
word-search below. clues are hidden in the
1 Pip’s full name
2 Pip’s elder sister
Stor yboard
sequences:
5
w on a large sheet of paper
? Dra
rows of 5 square boxes. Imagine
I
E
T
E
R W X
R S
B E
O R D T
G
U W I
R H S
F
S
E
M S
E
E
S
F
T
D Y
T
I
E
R B H K L
L
O O
R U W
I
C K L
O P Y
N R
M S
E
M L
E
N H O J
R R T
L
Y
J
I
Y
H E
R B E
B A X
S
A J
U L
T
H C H K L
F
F
E
S
C V
C J
K L
F
P H
I
L
P P
I
F
I
R T
U
O O O M
G J
A G G E
U J
T
U R Y
K B
R S
O
G E
V
C
Y
T
F
C A
R R
I
P G
J
MEET the
Director
Year 5 pupils from Spindle Point
Primary School in Bolton ask
Jacob Murray what it is like to
direct a play.
How old were you when you decided
you wanted to work in theatre?
I grew up with parents who worked in the theatre.
I started directing at school when I was 17 and
realised that I couldn’t act! I didn’t get serious about
directing professionally until I left University at the
age of 21. I’ve been directing ever since.
Have you a favourite play
that you have directed?
I have many favourite plays rather than one overall
favourite. I love the script for GREAT EXPECTATIONS
and you never know after working on this play it
might in time become my favourite one!
Do you feel under pressure
when you are directing a play?
Always. You feel very lonely as a director as you have
no one else to compare notes with. The buck
ultimately stops with you. Each production throws up
a new set of challenges that you have to deal with.
Learning to cope with pressure is all part of learning
to become a director.
Were you an actor before
becoming a director?
Only at school, although I did appear in a professional
play when I was a little boy. I’m too interested in the
whole of the play to just want to play one character.
Have you see any of the film
versions of GREAT EXPECTATIONS?
I avoid screen adaptations of great novels that I have
enjoyed reading as I get frustrated by them. I
particularly hate it when the screenwriters rewrite and
change whole chunks of a book. I have only seen the
famous David Lean black and white version of GREAT
EXPECTATIONS. I haven’t seen the Robert De Niro and
Gwyneth Paltrow film version, which I’m told, is quite
good. Neither did I see the recent BBC version, which I
also understand that a lot of people enjoyed.
What made you want to
direct GREAT EXPECTATIONS?
I remember as a child the book being read to me by
my father, who acted out all the characters by using
different voices. I then studied the book at school and
saw the original production of the play at The Royal
Exchange Theatre, twenty years ago. I love the play;
it’s a wonderful story with great characters.
Why have you cast
an adult actor to play Pip?
Just like the book, the stage play has the older Pip
telling the audience his life story. The play shows the
adult Pip dreaming about his life as a young boy and
then reliving it. As the book is about how one boy
grows into a young man, I thought it was important to
show one actor undergo this change.
How will you stage the graveyard
scene where Pip meets Magwitch?
You’ll have to come and see the play and
find out for yourselves!
Jacob Murray
(Director)
PIP
AND
VICTORIAN TIMES
GREAT EXPECTATIONS was published
in monthly parts from December 1860
until August 1861. The events
described in GREAT EXPECTATIONS
start in the mid 1830’s at the beginning
of Queen Victoria’s reign and end in the
1860’s.
The book and play tell us a lot about
Victorian times. Through Pip’s eyes we
see how during Queen Victoria’s reign,
Great Britain emerged as one of the
World’s leading industrial nations. At
the beginning of her reign the first
sewing and factory machines were
made, enabling factories to make
manufactured goods, which were
exported all over the World.
During Queen Victoria’s sixty four-year
reign enormous changes took place in
Great Britain to help the poor. Charles
Dickens was one of the people
responsible for this and he used his
stories as a way of campaigning for
better living and working conditions
especially for young children.
As a young boy Pip is born into a
society where many people in England
were brought up in poverty. At the
beginning of the Nineteenth Century
crime rates were high as people were
forced into crime to obtain money for
food and clothing. If caught stealing
and found guilty, adults and children
could be sentenced to death.
At the beginning of the novel, the
convict Magwitch escapes from a
prison ship. It is most likely that like
Pip, the young Charles Dickens would
have seen similar prison ships moored
on the Kent Marshes.
Charles Dickens was born into a poor
family and in all his novels he writes
with kindness about the poor. When as
a young man Pip first arrives in London
he appears to be ignorant of the plight
of many poor people in the City who
are forced to live in workhouses. Oliver
Twist, one of Charles Dickens bestloved characters is born and raised in a
workhouse. In workhouses, families
were separated, people living in them
had to wear uniforms and have their
hair cut short. Life in the workhouses
was very hard, people worked long
hours for little food and many young
children died of illness and malnutrition.
Walking through the London streets to
the lodgings he shared with Herbert
Pocket, Pip would have seen many
children, some as young as 3 selling a
variety of goods such as flowers, fruit
and match boxes. Children of similar
ages were made to work in brickworks,
coal mines, factories and mills. In 1875
a law was passed in Parliament which
made it illegal for children to work more
than 10 hours a day in textile mills.
At the beginning of Queen Victoria’s
reign most children received no
schooling at all. Some, if they were
fortunate, would be allowed to go to
school for just one year before they had
to start work. For many, going to
Sunday school once a week was all the
schooling they received. After Dickens’
death, laws were eventually passed
which in 1880 made it compulsory for
all children under the age of 10 to go to
school full time.
Living as a member of the gentry, Pip
would have lived a life of luxury, in
stark contrast to the many young
children and adults who lived in
London’s rat ridden inner city slums.
He would have spent his money on
fine clothes and entertaining friends
like Herbert Pocket.
By both reading the novel and
watching the play you will
experience Victorian times
through Pip’s eyes. Pip’s
Victorian World for the
most part is full of dark
shadowy characters
and unpleasant
happenings. Towards
the end of the novel
and the play,
however, when Pip is
reunited with Biddy,
Joe and Estella,
Charles Dickens
begins to reflect the
great optimism of the
age.
Charles Dickens
A BRIEF LIFE HISTORY
February 7,
born in Portsmouth on
Charles Dickens was
Pay Office.
vy
d as a clerk in the Na
London
1812. His father worke
to
d
ve
mo
ed 2, his family
When Charles was ag
o
Ho
e
Th
nt.
Ke
in
Chatham
and finally in 1817, to
the opening
vides the setting for
pro
nt
Ke
in
lar
su
Penin
boy, Charles
g
un
yo
a
As
CTATIONS.
scenes in GREAT EXPE
vels were
no
amongst his favourite
ABIAN
enjoyed reading and
AR
E
TH
d
DON QUIXOTE an
ROBINSON CRUSOE,
NIGHTS.
to a debtors’
, his father was sent
When Charles was 12
sent to work
the debt Charles was
prison. To help pay off
e factory
Th
s.
oe
sh
de blacking for
in a factory which ma
rience of
ed with rats. The expe
was filthy and infest
the rest of his
for
y haunted Charles
working in the factor
many of his
for
on
ati
pir
with the ins
life and provided him
r Twist and
ve
The characters of Oli
stories and characters.
sad young
,
ely
lon
d
both abandone
are
d
iel
erf
pp
Co
vid
Da
, Charles
out their adventures
boys and in writing ab
experiences.
on his own childhood
Dickens drew heavily
career as a
ns began his literary
In 1829, Charles Dicke
very
a
me
co
by 1832 had be
freelance writer and
at the
tes
ba
de
ry
nta
Parliame
shed in
successful reporter of
bli
pu
re
His first stories we
series of
House of Commons.
a
ote
wr
ns
ke
name Boz, Dic
1834. Using the pen
ing
pany humorous sport
short articles to accom
Seymour. The
torian artist, Robert
illustrations by the Vic
ation to
pir
ins
the
Dickens with
illustrations provided
ich like all
wh
,
RS
PE
PA
ICK
KW
E PIC
write his first story TH
ly.
nth
s published mo
of his other novels, wa
led Dickens to
KWICK PAPERS enab
The success of THE PIC
he married
36
18
ril
Ap
iter and in
become a full time wr
children.
th whom he had 10
Catherine Hogarth wi
poverty and
r forget growing up in
Charles Dickens neve
ooling,
sch
ved
paigned for impro
in his novels he cam
ending of
the
d
an
ies
tor
ns in fac
OLAS
better working conditio
CH
NI
d
ls, OLIVER TWIST an
bjects
su
child labour. His nove
se
the
ing
ng
impact in bri
was
ns
NICKLEBY had a great
ke
Dic
lot of readers. Charles
He
to the attention of a
e.
ag
his
ous Englishmen of
one of the most fam
ls and
reading from his nove
ely
siv
travelled exten
England,
in
s
tre
ea
Th
in
es
nc
die
performing to large au
nce and America.
Scotland, Ireland, Fra
became ill.
s in America, Dickens
In 1868, whilst he wa
ite of
sp
In
e.
ok
str
a
suffered
kens
The following year he
Dic
es
out his health, Charl
e 8 1870,
Doctors’ warnings ab
Jun
,
ath
de
his
til the day of
Abbey.
ter
continued to work un
stmins
kens is buried at We
aged 58. Charles Dic
Meet the actor playing Pip
Year 5 pupils from Spindle Point Primary School in Bolton ask
Oliver Dimsdale what it is like to be a professional actor.
Oliver Dimsdale
(Pip)
e an actor?
How did you becom
her
y and inspiring drama teac s
rs old, I had a very funn
I had many opportunitie
When I was about 13 yea
us.
with
did
he
es
gam
ily,
theatre
ouragement from my fam
who made me enjoy the
ol, and together with enc
an
to perform in plays at scho
ided to apply to train as
dec
I
,
Mum
my
and
a
r Ann
especially from my siste
have acted on stage, on
in London. Since then I
actor at a Drama school
television and in film.
ne
you give to anyo
What advice would ome an actor?
who wants to bec
be able to
work and you need to
and
It takes a lot of hard
re are a lot of actors
the
e
aus
bec
nt
tme
lly
handle disappoin
audition for. If you rea
you
t
tha
role
ry
eve
do
you don’t get
, and not just want to
ing
act
oy
enj
st
mu
. There
want to act, you
and earn lots of money
ous
fam
e
om
bec
it so you can
o achieve this. It
number of actors wh
are only a very small
films, paint,
d
goo
tch
lot, wa
really helps to read a
gination.
write and use your ima
Do you get nervo
us before you per
form on stage?
Before the first perform
ance of a play in fron
t of an audience, I get
nervous because I wa
very
nt to play my role we
ll and tell the story to
best of my ability, and
the
try not to make too ma
say my first line, how
ny mistakes! As soon
ever, my nerves gradua
as I
lly go away. Sometim
know that some of my
es if
family or friends are
watching a performanc I
get really nervous bec
e, I
ause I really want the
m to enjoy it.
What has been yo
ur favourite sta
ge role?
I have two favourite
roles. The first one is
when I last appeared
Theatre in a play set
at the
in South Africa called
THE DEAD WAIT, which Royal Exchange
Jacob Murray. It was
was directed by
a very demanding pla
as I carried in the pla
y. I had to be in good
y another actor on my
physical shape
back! My second fav
musical called LITTLE
ourite role was in a
ME that I performed
when
of Drama in London.
The script and the lyri I was at The Guildhall School
cs were very funny and
a great time perform
I had
ing in it.
IONS?
racter in GREAT EXPECTAT
Who is your favourite cha
Have you read GREAT EXPE
CTATIONS?
cially
espe
,
man
such a kind and warm
Yes, I have just finished reading
It has to be Joe Gargery. He is
it. Charles Dickens has such a
thin. He is there for Pip
and
thick
gh
throu
Pip
by
s
good
eye for
detail, especially when he is settin
in the way he stick
g a scene or describing some of
is like a father to Pip.
characters. I find these details
the
when he needs him most. Joe
very useful for preparing to play
the role of Pip. I
love the way that the book is writt
en in a very humorous way. Som
when a character is feeling nerv
etimes even
ous or unhappy about something
, such as when
Pip is fearful about Mrs Joe disco
vering that he has taken some
pork pie and
brandy to give to Magwitch, Dick
pare for the role?
ens makes me laugh in recognitio
How will you pre
n of what
so many of us are really like.
es, I will
and the play many tim
Having read the novel
nt ways of playing
ere
diff
se
ear
reh
s,
learn my line
and stay fit
How will you pla
other actors and try
y Pip as a young
each scene with the
sleep well is always
boy?
and
eat
to
I can remember quite
ng
Tryi
.
and healthy
In this
clearly what I was like
whenever I do a play.
as a young boy of sev
how my voice sounde
at the top of my list
en, especially how I
d. In rehearsals I wil
e and I will need all
tim
the
moved and
all
l pretend to be a you
hardships as a young
ge
sta
on
play I am
ng boy again. In spite
boy, I think that he is
to do this!
of Pip’s
very fit and active and
the energy I can get
not to make him too
I will play him like tha
frightened. I think he
t, trying
is a very brave young
man.
s
n
o
i
t
a
t
c
e
Great Exp
The stage version of GREAT
h the adult Pip
EXPECTATIONS begins wit
g back over his
in a debtors’ prison lookin
ended flash
ext
of
life. Through a series
ECTATIONS
EXP
EAT
GR
of
backs the story
y of actors, some
is acted out by a Compan
one part.
of whom play more than
ting his parents’
In a churchyard, whilst visi
, is frightened
han
grave, Pip, a young orp
has escaped
o
wh
er
son
into helping a pri
d on the Kent
from a prison ship moore
prisoner,
Marshes. Pip brings the
a file.
and
Magwitch, food, drink
Mrs Joe, and her
Pip lives with his sister,
village blacksmith.
a
husband Joe Gargery,
in the
nt
ide
inc
A year after the
ned to visit the
mo
sum
is
Pip
d,
churchyar
her derelict
elderly Miss Havisham at
a young bride,
As
.
mansion, Satis House
ed on her
ert
des
s
wa
Miss Havisham
The dining
cé.
fian
her
by
day
wedding
out for the
laid
l
room at Satis House is stil
k place.
too
er
nev
t
wedding reception tha
is told
he
use
Ho
is
Sat
at
s
When Pip arrive
girl
ng
you
utiful
to play with Estella, a bea
ss
Mi
by
who has been brought up
Havisham to hate men.
House, Pip
During his visits to Satis
Estella and
becomes infatuated with
the blacksmith’s
at
ng
begins to resent livi
tells Pip that a
s,
ger
Jag
,
forge. A lawyer
to pay for him to
secret benefactor wishes
Mistakenly,
an.
be turned into a gentlem
am is his
vish
Ha
s
Pip believes that Mis
r.
cto
secret benefa
he is
Moving to London where
an, Pip loses
tlem
gen
a
into
transformed
ily and begins
touch with his adopted fam
hopelessly in
ing
to lead a selfish life, fall
nd, Herbert
frie
his
th
Wi
.
love with Estella
rns how to act
Pocket, Pip gradually lea
tleman.
and behave like a real gen
gentleman is
Pip’s dream of living as a
from Jaggers
shattered when he learns
benefactor.
ret
sec
that Magwitch is his
the Marshes,
on
d
ure
apt
rec
When he was
to Australia
Magwitch was transported
as a sheep
e
where he made his fortun
l a convicted
stil
is
o
wh
farmer. Magwitch,
great
at
d
lan
Eng
to
s
prisoner, return
.
Pip
lt
adu
the
see
to
risk
personal
the man who Miss
In London, Compeyson,
rry, betrays
ma
to
Havisham was due
itch to escape
gw
Ma
ps
hel
Magwitch. Pip
is rearrested.
on a riverboat. Magwitch
itch dies in
gw
Before he is executed Ma
prison.
is sent to the
Having lost his fortune Pip
omes very ill.
bec
he
ere
wh
debtors’ prison
nurses him back
He is visited by Joe who
fully recovered
to full health. When he has
Satis House
to
s
urn
from being ill, Pip ret
ella. The play
Est
h
wit
d
nite
where he is reu
ella holding hands
finishes with Pip and Est
ng children
in the garden where as you
they used to play.
WHO’S WHO...
PIP played by Oliver Dimsdale
ip
◆ Full name: Philip Pirr
sformed from a young
◆ During the play is tran
boy into a young man.
Havisham and later
◆ When he meets Miss
s his back on his
turn
don
Lon
to
moves
adopted family.
lives a selfish life.
◆ As a young gentleman
begins to feel
une
fort
◆ When he loses his
est to him,
clos
se
tho
ting
hur
for
sorry
.
Joe
especially Biddy and
yed by Una Stubbs
MISS HAVISHAM pla
,
bride on her wedding day
◆ Deserted as a young
elly
cru
and
ss
g dre
she still wears her weddin
her revenge on men.
brings up Estella to take
ed as an eccentric and
◆ In the play is portray
sinister figure.
erable death.
◆ Dies a lonely and mis
MAGWITCH played by Jon
athan Hackett
◆ A convict!
◆ At the beginning of the
play frightens and
terrorises Pip but on retu
rning from Australia
behaves like a father sho
wing him great
affection.
◆ In the play is reveale
d to be Estella’s natural
father and on his deathb
ed regrets not being
able to bring her up as his
daughter.
ESTELL A played by Charlot
te Emmerson
◆ Her name in Latin me
ans a star and like one
she is cold and remote to
all men, especially
Pip.
◆ As a young lady turn
s against Miss Havisham
for the way that she was
brought up as a
young girl.
◆ At the end of the play
Estella appears to
change both her behavio
ur and her feelings
for Pip.
JOE played by John Elmes
◆ Is the only character in the play, apart from Biddy who is genuinely loyal and faithful
throughout.
◆ Joe’s behaviour in the play and moral standards ultimately provide the role model that
Pip has spent all his youth and adult life looking for.
Written and researched
by: Exchange Educati
on,
Royal Exchange Theatre
, St Ann’s Square, Man
chester M2 7DH
Contributions by:
Oliver Dimsdale and
Jacob Murray.
Character sketches and
interview questions by:
Year 5 pupils from Spin
dle Point Primary Sch
ool, Bolton.
With thanks to Designe
r Johanna Bryant who
se costume designs
are reproduced with
her kind permission.
Visit our website: ww
w.royalexchange.co.u
to read Assistant Stage
k
Manager Fran O’Donn
ell’s rehearsal diary.
A PDF version of this
pack may be downloa
ded from the website
after the run of Great
Expectations.
PricewaterhouseCoopers and The Royal Exchange Theatre have received
an investment from Arts & Business New Partners to further develop their
creative partnership. Arts & Business New Partners is Funded by the Arts
Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 255424
ANSWERS: 1 Philip Pirrip 2 Mrs Joe 3 Satis House
4 Charles Dickens 5 Herbert 6 Jaggers 7 Oliver Dimsdale
8 Una Stubbs 9 John Elmes 10 Jacob Murray