Terence Rattigan and John Gielgud’s stage adaptation of A Tale Of Two Cities will receive its world premiere later this year, opening at the King’s Head theatre on 25 September.
Charles Dickens’ classic story, which was adapted by Rattigan and Gielgud in 1935 but never made it to the stage, will bring its tale of a young lawyer who makes the ultimate sacrifice to the Islington venue for a limited season until 19 October.
The adaptation, which was originally meant to star Gielgud as a host of characters including the play’s central protagonist Sydney Carton, is set amidst a backdrop of violence, deceit, corruption and betrayal, with its story of revolution and political unrest remaining as relevant today as it was during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Directed by Adam Spreadbury-Maher, the TheatreUpClose production will feature a cast of eight actors in 30 roles, in keeping with Gielgud’s intention more than seven decades ago to play multiple characters in his own adaptation.