David Copperfield Brings a Whirlwind of Dickens to Guildford in 2026
A fast-paced, inventive take on Dickens’ most personal novel brings wit, warmth and theatrical flair to Guildford in 2026.
Guildford Shakespeare Company will open its 20th anniversary year with a lively new production of David Copperfield, bringing Charles Dickens’ most personal novel to Holy Trinity Church in February 2026.
Following an acclaimed London premiere, this inventive three-actor adaptation transforms the familiar coming-of-age story into a fast-paced theatrical adventure, filled with wit, warmth and playful ingenuity. Directed by Abigail Pickard Price, the production places storytelling front and centre, with no one ever leaving the stage as more than 20 characters spring to life in quick succession.
Set within the atmospheric surroundings of Holy Trinity Church, the show turns the historic space into a living stage. Audiences are carried from windswept Yarmouth to bustling Victorian London, meeting some of Dickens’ most enduring characters along the way, including Betsey Trotwood, Peggotty, Uriah Heep and the ever-hopeful Mr Micawber.
At its heart, David Copperfield is a story of resilience and the people who shape us. While David’s journey includes the darker realities of Victorian life, this adaptation leans into the novel’s brightness and humour, celebrating imagination, kindness and the possibility of change. In true Guildford Shakespeare Company style, a handful of props, puppetry and quicksilver costume changes are used to conjure an entire world, with comic energy and theatrical flair.
The production reunites much of the creative team behind GSC’s internationally successful Pride & Prejudice. Eddy Payne takes on the role of David Copperfield, joined by Luke Barton and Louise Beresford, who together bring the surrounding cast of characters vividly to life through rapid role changes.
Producer and GSC co-founder Matt Pinches describes the production as a perfect fit for the company’s milestone year, noting that its playful spirit and inventive storytelling reflect what Guildford Shakespeare Company has championed for the past two decades.
The Guildford run follows performances at Theatre Royal Windsor and Ipswich’s New Wolsey Theatre, before settling into Holy Trinity Church from 6 to 28 February 2026.
Tickets and more information: https://www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk/david-copperfield/
Elena Leo is the Arts & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
