Tilted Wig Production and Malvern Theatres have announced a national tour of the Charles Dickens classic, Great Expectations which opens at Malvern Theatres on Thursday, February 8.

Nichola McAuliffe will take the role of Miss Havisham in this powerful new stage adaptation by Ken Bentley, directed by Sophie Boyce Couzens and designed by James Turner. Lighting design is by Richard Williamson, Sound Design by Max Pappenheim and the composer is Ollie King.

Following a terrifying encounter with an escaped convict, young Pip is given an unexpected chance to better himself by visiting the reclusive and mysterious Miss Havisham. In the decaying grandeur of her house, Pip falls in love with Estella and helped by an anonymous benefactor, he moves to the bustling city to pursue his dream of winning Estella’s heart and becoming part of the educated elite.

Peopled by some of Dickens’ most colourful and memorable characters and painted in rich, vivid colour this new production promises a powerful and theatrical telling of Dickens' universally loved masterpiece.

Olivier Award-winning actress Nichola McAuliffe is best known for her role in the long-running TV series Surgical Spirit, the films Tomorrow Never Dies and Chéri and for her many stage appearances including Kiss Me Kate for the RSC, The Night of the Iguana in the West End and Alan Bennett’s The Lady in the Van.

The cast also includes Séan Aydon (Pip), Isla Carter (Estella), Edward Ferrow (Joe Gargery) and Richard Earl (Jaggers/Pumblechook).

Great Expectations will be at Malvern Theatres from Thursday, February 8 to Saturday, Februry 10 and from Thursday, Februry 15 to Saturday, February 17. To book, call the box office on 01684 892277 or visit malvern-theatres.co.uk