DAVID Copperfield, Betsey Trotwood, Mr Micawber, Peggotty, Steerforth, Uriah Heep … it is a roll call of some of the most famous characters in literature, all from the same novel by the multi-talented story-teller David Copperfield.

And local actors of all ages have a chance to be involved when Bath Theatre Royal stages its David Copperfield community play in February 2026. Preliminary taster workshops for this exciting project start at the beginning of March.

Scores of local people have already expressed an interest in the large-scale event, which will be staged in the Theatre Royal’s main house.

Adults interested in performing in the production are invited to attend one free taster drama workshop, at one of three venues across the city, led by Olivier Award-winning Sally Cookson, the director of David Copperfield. The morning sessions will take place on:

Saturday 1st March with British Sign Language interpreter at Twerton Village Hall, Landseer Road, BA2 1DX;
Saturday 8th March, at St Stephens Centre, St Stephen’s Church, Lansdown, BA1 5SX;
Saturday 15th March, at St Marks School, Bay Tree Road, Larkhall,BA1 6ND

Sally Cookson says: “Having worked as a director in the theatre industry for over 30 years, I’ve reached a time in my life where I want to feel connected creatively to a new, broader artistic community and I want to make art with people I don’t usually get the opportunity of making art with. I believe that everyone is an artist, and it doesn’t matter if you’ve never stepped foot in a theatre before, never performed at school, never sung in the shower – we want you in this show! How exciting it will be to dive together into the story of David Copperfield.”

Katherine Lazare, the theatre’s head of community engagement, says: “The beauty of community plays is they bring lots of different people together with the same aim: to make a show and tell a story. It really doesn’t matter if you’ve taken part in anything like this before or not; in the rehearsal room everyone is equal.”

The David Copperfield story, which is semi-autobiographical, represents the universal quest for happiness, belonging and love in a compelling tale encompassing a world of characters across class, place and relationships, that resonates just as much today as it did in Charles Dickens’ Victorian England.

To sign up for one of the three taster workshops in March or to find out more visit:
theatreroyal.org.uk/david-copperfield