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His Dark Materials, the stageplay

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     In Decembre 2003, the National Theatre (Olivier Theatre) of London produces an epic stageplay adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. The play is staged directed by Nicholas Hytner based on script by Nicolas Wright; it consists in two parts of three hours each.

The play is described as follows: HIS DARK MATERIALS take us on a thrilling journey through worlds familiar and unknown. For Lyra and Will, its two central characters, it's a coming of age and a transforming spiritual experience. Their great quest demands a savage struggle against the most dangerous of enemies. They encounter fantastical creatures in parallel worlds – rebellious angels, soul-eating spectres, child-catching Gobblers and the armoured bears and witch-clans of the Arctic. Finally, before reaching, perhaps, the republic of heaven, they must visit the Land of the Dead.
His Dark Materials will be an epic production both in its narrative scope and its staging, involving artists from new technologies as well as old. It is one of the National's most ambitious projects, and aims to create an experience as meaningful for 12 year olds as for adults. This riveting story unfolds over the course of two plays.


     Of course, it is not easy to adapt a book without simplifying it, for length reasons as well (the play is six hours long while the audio-book runs for thirty-five!). Thus, no mulefa in this show, while dæmons are represented as puppets managed by puppeters on stage.      Video projections are also used on numerous occasion, to represent for example windows through worlds.

The preparation of the show starts on Septembre 15, 2003 and after some technical delays, the show premieres on January 3rd, 2004 and runs until March 2, 2003. The success of the show brings a second run, with a new cast and some amendments of the script, from December 2004 to April 2, 2005.

     The play was since then played many times in the UK, involving professionnal or amateurs and youth cast and crews. (See our review of the REP version in 2009).

     This page is however mainly dedicated to the original run and the creators of the stageplay at the London National Theater but picutres from various other productions are available on our website here.

Here some excerpts of the show, available online :



   Script :.


The script of the stageplay adaptation by Nicholas Wright was published simultaneously with the first run of the play; a second edition came later, including the amendments of the second run at the National Theater. This script is still available at Nick Hern Books.

    Pictures :.

   Reviews :.

   Casting (first run) :.

Casting
  • Pantalaimon: Samuel Barnett
  • Lord Boreal: John Carlisle
  • Will: Dominic Cooper
  • Serafina Pekkala: Niamh Cusack
  • Lord Asriel: Timothy Dalton
  • Farder Coram: Patrick Godfrey
  • John Faa: Stephen Greif
  • Billy Costa: Jamie Harding
  • Mrs Coulter: Patricia Hodge
  • Doctor Cade: Akbar Kurtha
  • Jopari/Iofur: Chris Larkin
  • Witch/Harpy: Inika Leigh Wright
  • Salcilia: Helena Lymbery
  • Fra Pavel/Lee Scoresby: Tim McMullan
  • Professor Hopcraft: Iain Mitchell
  • Lyra: Anna Maxwell Martin
  • Macaw Lady: Helen Murton
  • Stelmaria: Emily Mytton
  • Ruta Skadi: Cecilia Noble
  • Mrs Lonsdale: Katy Odey
  • Thorold: Nick Sampson
  • Iorek: Danny Sapani
  • Ben: Jason Thorpe
  • Roger: Russell Tovey
  • Perkins: Daniel Tuite
  • Astronom/Dr West: Andrew Westfield
  • Brother Jasper: Ben Whishaw
  • Angelica: Katie Wimpenny
  • Golden Monkey: Ben Wright
  • Tony Costa: Richard Youman


Technical crew
  • Director: Nicholas Hytner
  • Set Designer: Giles Cadle
  • Costume Designer: Jon Morrell
  • Puppet Designer: Michael Curry
  • Lighting Designer: Paule Constable
  • Video Graphics Designer: Thomas Gray & Yuri Tanaka for The Gray Circle
  • Choregrapher/Associate Director: Aletta Collins
  • Music: Jonathan Dove
  • Music Director: Steve Edis
  • Fight Director: Terry King
  • Sound Designer: Paul Groothuis



Last update: 16/02/2020

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