The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1982– )

Young Nicholas Nickleby sets out to make his fortune in order to prevent his mother and sister from depending upon his uncle, Ralph Nicklby. But he finds his first job as master at a ... See full summary »

Stars:

Alun Armstrong, Suzanne Bertish, Janet Dale

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Alun Armstrong	...	Mr. Wagstaff (2 episodes, 1982)
Suzanne Bertish	...	Fanny Squeers (2 episodes, 1982)
Janet Dale	...	Miss Knag (2 episodes, 1982)
Jane Downs	...	Mrs. Nickleby (2 episodes, 1982)
Cathryn Harrison	...	Henrietta Petowker (2 episodes, 1982)
Lila Kaye	...	Mrs. Crummles (2 episodes, 1982)
John McEnery	...	Mr. Mantalini (2 episodes, 1982)
Bob Peck	...	John Browdie (2 episodes, 1982)
Edward Petherbridge	...	Newman Noggs (2 episodes, 1982)
Roger Rees	...	Nicholas Nickleby (2 episodes, 1982)
Emily Richard	...	Kate Nickleby (2 episodes, 1982)
David Threlfall	...	Smike (2 episodes, 1982)
Thelma Whiteley	...	Madame Mantalini (2 episodes, 1982)
John Woodvine	...	Ralph Nickleby (2 episodes, 1982)

Storyline

Young Nicholas Nickleby sets out to make his fortune in order to prevent his mother and sister from depending upon his uncle, Ralph Nicklby. But he finds his first job as master at a Yorkshire school to be cruel, and runs away with one of the students. Meanwhile, Kate is subjected to the unwanted attentions of Sir Mulberry Hawk, aided by her uncle. Nicholas and his new friend, Smike, begin their adventures and eventually set out to rescue Kate, with the usual Dickensian twists, turns and asides.

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Plot Keywords:

uncle nephew relationship | tv mini series | victorian era | stage | family relationships | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 January 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nicholas Nickleby

Filming Locations:

Old Vic Theatre, Waterloo Road, South Bank, Lambeth, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel 4 Television Corporation, Primetime Television Ltd., RM Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

540 min 540 min (in four episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original eight and a half hour Broadway production of "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby" by Charles Dickens and adapted by David Edgar opened at the Plymouth Theater (after two successful runs in London) on October 4, 1981, and ran for 49 performances. It was performed in its entirety at 1pm on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with a tight one-hour meal break from 5-6pm between Parts One and Two. For those with day jobs, Thursday nights were just Part One, Friday nights were just Part Two, at 7pm. To cover the huge production cost of importing the show and cast, the tickets were a then unheard-of $100 for every seat (and worth every penny). It made theatrical history and won the 1982 Tony Award for the Best Play. Alun Armstrong, Suzanne Bertish, Sharon Bower, Janet Dale, Jeffery Dench, Ian East, Alan Gill, Lucy Gutteridge, Andrew Hawkins, Rose Hill, Roderick Horn, Lila Kaye, Teddy Kempner, Timothy Kightley, William Maxwell, John McEnery, David Lloyd Meredith, Sally Nesbitt, Bob Peck, Edward Petherbridge, Clyde Pollitt, Stephen Rashbrook, Christopher Ravenscroft, Roger Rees, Hubert Rees, Emily Richard, Mark Tandy, David Threlfall, Hilary Townley, Thelma Whiteley and John Woodvine, recreated their stage roles in the television miniseries. The 1982 Tony Award for Best Actor in Play was won by Roger Rees. Edward Petherbridge and David Threlfall were nominated for the 1982 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.

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Connections

Version of Nicholas Nickleby (1903)

User Reviews

This play on video runs eight hours and is worth every minute--brilliantly done.

This video of the Royal Shakespeare Company's 8-hour production of Nicholas Nickleby is well worth the time. It's funny, moving, and very Dickensian. There's also a brief look at Victorian productions of Shakespeare (when Nicholas stars as Romeo) which is absolutely hilarious. The actors all do a wonderful job, particularly those playing Nicholas, Kate, and Ralph Nickleby and Smike. This is one of those rare videotaped plays which captures the best of the real production with none of the drawbacks of most taped plays.