His Dark Materials (play)

Infobox Play
name = His Dark Materials


image_size = 150px
caption =
writer = Phillip Pullman (novel)
Nicholas Wright (play)
characters =
genre =
setting =
subject = Life and death, power and authority
premiere = 20 December 2003
place = Olivier Theatre
London
orig_lang = English
web = http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/His%20Dark%20Materials%20Part%20I%20%20200304+6102.twl
ibdb_id =
iobdb_id =

"His Dark Materials" is a play written by British playwright Nicholas Wright adapted from the Phillip Pullman fantasy novel trilogy of the same title. The production premiered in the Royal National Theatre's Olivier Theatre, London, in 2003. Due to the complications in staging a piece containing the narrative of three books, the play was performed in two parts in alternate performances.

ynopsis

The play follows the same plot as the books - a story of the coming of age of two children, Will Parry and Lyra Belacqua and their adventures as they wander through a series of parallel universes against a backdrop of epic events. During their quest, the pair encounter various fantasy creatures such as witches and armoured polar bears in a journey which they hope will take them to The Republic of Heaven.

Productions

Original Production

The original production was staged at the Olivier Theatre, National Theatre and ran from 20 December, 2003 until 27 March 2004 [ [http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/His%20Dark%20Materials%20Part%20I%20%20200304+6102.twl National Theatre : Productions : His Dark Materials Part I 2003/04] ] . The production was directed by Nicholas Hytner and featured the following cast:
*Pantalaimon - Samuel Barnett
*Lord Boreal - John Carlisle
*Will Parry - Dominic Cooper
*Serafina Pekkala - Niamh Cusack
*Lord Asriel - Timothy Dalton
*Farder Coram - Patrick Godfrey
*John Faa - Stephen Grief
*Billy Costa - Jamie Harding
*Mrs Coulter - Patricia Hodge
*Dr Cade - Akbar Kurtha
*Jopari/Iofur Raknison - Chris Larkin
*Tortured Witch/Harpy - Inika Leigh Wright
*Salcilia - Helena Lymbery
*Fra Pavel/Lee Scoresby - Tim McMullan
*Professor Hopcraft - Iain Mitchell
*Lyra Belacqua - Anna Maxwell Martin
*Macaw Lady - Helen Murton
*Stelmaria - Emily Mytton
*Ruta Skadi - Cecilia Noble
*Mrs Lonsdale - Katy Odey
*Thorold - Nick Sampson
*Iorek Byrnison - Dany Sapani
*Ben - Jason Thorpe
*Roger Parslow - Russell Tovey
*Perkins - Daniel Tuite
*Astronomy Scholar/Dr West - Andrew Westfield
*Brother Jasper - Ben Whishaw
*Angelica - Katie Wimpenny
*Golden Monkey - Ben Wright
*Tony Costa - Richard Youman

All other parts were played by members of the company.

The technical crew were as follows:
*Set Designer - Giles Cadle
*Costume Designer - Jon Morrell
*Puppet Designer - Michael Curry
*Lighting Designer - Paule Constable
*Video Projection Designer - Thomas Gray for The Gray Circle
*Computer Graphics Designer - Yuri Tanaka for The Gray Circle
*Choreographer/Associate Director - Aletta Collins
*Music Composer - Jonathan Dove
*Music Director - Steve Edis
*Fight Director - Terry King
*Sound Designer - Paul Groothuis

2004 Revival

The production was revived, again at the Olivier, National Theatre, in 2004. It opened on 20 November 2004 and ran until 2 April 2005 [ [http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/His%20Dark%20Materials%20Part%20I+7925.twl National Theatre : Productions : His Dark Materials Part I] ] . The production was again directed by Nicholas Hynter with Matt Wilde and featured the following cast:
*Serafina Pekkala - Adjoa Andoh
*Billy Costa - Mark Buchner
*Lord Boreal - John Carlisle
*Jessie - Michelle Dockery
*Mrs Lonsdale - Vanessa Earl
*Pantalaimon - Jamie Harding
*Roger Parslow - Darren Hart
*Iofur Raknison/Jeptha Jones - Don Gallagher
*John Faa - Ian Gelder
*Lord Asriel - David Harewod
*Golden Monkey - Leo Kay
*Farder Coram - David Killick
*Ben - Pascal Langdale
*Lilly - Samantha Lawson
*Brother Jasper/Kaisa - Elliot Levey
*Will Parry - Michael Legge
*Stelmaria - Emma Manton
*Mrs Coulter - Lesley Manville
*Professor Hopcraft - Iain Mitchell
*Salcilia - Victoria Moseley
*Daisy - Helen Murton
*Dr Cade - Chike Okonkwo
*Tony Costa - Harry Peacock
*Lee Scoresby - Alan Perrin
*Iorek Byrnison - Alistair Petrie
*Dr West - Dodger Phillips
*Thorold/Balthamos - Samuel Roukin
*Fra Pavel - Nick Sampson
*Ruta Skadi/Betty - Rachel Sanders
*Lyra Belacqua - Elaine Symons

The technical crew remained largely the same as the original production with only the following changes/additions:
*Associate Lighting Designer - Vic Smerdon
*Music Director - Mark Bousie

Awards and nominations

The production won two Laurence Olivier Awards in 2005 for Best Set Design for Giles Cadle and Best Lighting Design for Paule Constable [ [http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/awards/winners Laurence Olivier Awards: Past winners | Official London Theatre Guide] ] [ [http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/His%20Dark%20Materials%20Part%20I+7925.twl National Theatre : Productions : His Dark Materials Part I] ] .

ee also

*His Dark Materials
*His Dark Materials terminology
*The Golden Compass (film)

References

External links

* [http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/His%20Dark%20Materials%20Part%20I%20%20200304+6102.twl His Dark Materials (Part 1) on the National Theatre website]
* [http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/His%20Dark%20Materials%20Part%20II%20200304+6107.twl His Dark Materials (Part 2) on the National Theatre website]