Great Expectations to close early 30 March 2013

Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, adapted for the stage by Jo Clifford, has posted early closing notices at the Vaudeville Theatre, and will now close on 30 March 2013. (It was booking to 1 June).

Bruce Athol MacKinnon, on behalf of the Production Company Beckman Unicorn, said "It is with great sadness that Great Expectations has closed earlier than planned. The current financial climate has made producing independently in the commercial sector even harder despite our 90% audience approval rating. The critically acclaimed National Tour in Autumn 2012 allowed the full-scale production to be seen by audiences from Southampton to Aberdeen, and the arrival of Great Expectations in the West End for the first time as a full-length play, and at the culmination of the Dickens bi-centenary celebrations, was achieved only with the extraordinary support of a group of private investors - none of whom had previously invested in theatre."

The show opened in London's West End's Vaudeville Theatre 6 Feb 2013, following previews from 1 Feb, to moderate notices from the popular press.

Cast includes Paula Wilcox as Miss Havisham.

It is directd by Graham McLaren, designed by Robin Peoples, lighting by Kai Fischer, costumes by Annie Gosney and Graham McLaren, sound by Matt McKenzie. Produced by Bruce Athol MacKinnon on behalf of Beckman Unicorn Ltd & Satis House Productions Ltd.

As Pip unravels the truth behind his own 'great expectations' in his quest to become a gentleman, the mysteries of the past and the convolutions of fate serve to steer him towards maturity and his most important discovery of all - the truth about himself.