Bleak Expectations  Tickets
Bleak Expectations : What to expect - 1
Bleak Expectations : What to expect - 2
Bleak Expectations : What to expect - 3
London

Bleak Expectations Tickets

Bleak Expectations : What to expect - 1
Bleak Expectations : What to expect - 2
Bleak Expectations : What to expect - 3
Bleak Expectations  Tickets

About Bleak Expectations

"A wickedly inventive parody of Victorian melodrama" The Times

Join a medley of much-loved faces including Tom Allen, Adjoa Andoh, Alexander Armstrong, Jo Brand, Jack Dee, Stephen Fry, Nish Kumar, Lee Mack, Stephen Mangan, Ben Miller or Sue Perkins* in this “irresistible”(The Times) stage adaptation of the award-winning BBC Radio 4 comedy series Bleak Expectations. Follow the hilarious misadventures of the young Pip Bin - tragic half orphan, hopeless romantic and would-be-hero - as this glorious Victorian mash-up arrives at the Criterion Theatre for a limited season.

Not all at the same time, obviously, that would be ridiculous*

Bleak Expectations is the riotous story that Charles Dickens might havewritten after drinking too much gin. Follow Pip’s extraordinary exploits with sisters Pippa and Poppy plus best friend Harry Biscuit as they attempt to escape the calculating clutches of the dastardly Mr Gently Benevolent, defeat the hideous Hardthrasher siblings, and deflect disaster at every turn!

Will evil be vanquished by virtue? Can love triumph over hate? Escape with this joyfully anarchic comedy featuring barbarous boarding schools, contemptible conspiracies, roaring romances, devilish disguises, and definitely, probably, hopefully, a happy ending!

  • 4-9 July: Stephen Mangan
  • 11-16 July: Hugh Dennis
  • 18-23 July: Tom Allen
  • 25-30 July: Jack Dee
  • 1-6 August: Alexander Armstrong
  • 8-13 August: Stephen Fry

Important Information
We strongly recommend and ask you to wear a face covering during your visit to The Criterion — including during the performance - unless you have an exemption.

Run time

2 hours 15 minutes (inc. interval)

Start date

3rd May, 2023

End date

13th August, 2023

Categories

Age

10+. Guidance on Content: This performance uses prop guns and contains loud noises, haze and at points flashes of light.

Bleak Expectations : What to expect - 1
Bleak Expectations : What to expect - 2
Bleak Expectations : What to expect - 3

72 Reviews

CaligariDrums

CaligariDrums

37 Reviews | 0 Followers
96
Brilliant writting, Cosy, Entertaining, Farcical hilarity, Clever

See it if You love witty, farcical comedies with brilliant stabs at the culture of Dickensian novels and social status’. Also if you loved the radio.

Don’t see it if No reason. Go and see it or miss out!

Stage Door Matt

Stage Door Matt

26 Reviews | 2 Followers
95
Entertaining, Farce, Funny, Great writing, Hilarious

See it if You like slapstick/farce style comedy

Don’t see it if you don’t like comedy

Catherine 352

Catherine 352

99 Reviews | 10 Followers
95
Great acting, Funny, Entertaining, Delightful, Great writing

See it if you want to have fun time. Mashed up Dickens in farce style. Witty wordy lines acted perfectly. You’ll love it.

Don’t see it if you don’t like comedy or you don’t like any of Dickens. Also may not so hilarious to those who don’t know anything about Dickens.

Millsyblue

Millsyblue

64 Reviews | 3 Followers
90
Delightful, Hilarious, Funny, Entertaining, Clever

See it if You want to spend a couple of hours being entertained with some very clever writing and great acting. Throw in a guest star narrator!

Don’t see it if You are studying Dickens for an exam and you wanted a study guide!

Stars on stage

Julian Clary

Julian Clary

Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry

Stephen Mangan

Stephen Mangan

Robert Lindsay

Robert Lindsay

Bleak Expectations cast and creative team

By: Mark Evans Cast list: Nina Wadia, Dermot O’Leary, Sally Philips, Sue Perkins, Julian Clary, Adjoa Andoh, Lee Mack, Stephen Mangan, Hugh Dennis, Tom Allen, Jack Dee, Alexander Armstrong, Stephen Fry, Ben Miller, Nish Kumar, Robert Lindsay, Craig Ferguson, Ashh Blackwood, Shane David-Joseph, J.J. Henry, John Hopkins, Dom Hodson, Serena Manteghi, Marc Pickering, Rachel Summers

Venue

Criterion Theatre

218-223 Piccadilly, Piccadilly Circus, London, United Kingdom, SW1Y 4XA

Directions

Location: West End
Railway station: Charing Cross
Bus numbers: (Haymarket) 3, 6, 12, 13, 19, 23, 38, 88, 139; (Regent Street) 14, 15, 22, 94, 159, 453
Night bus numbers: (Haymarket) 6, 12, 23, 88, 139, 159, N3, N13, N18, N19, N38, N97, N136, N550, N551; (Regent Street) 14, 94, 159, 453, N15, N22, N109
Car park: Leicester Square, Whitcomb Street (3 mins)
Directions from tube: The theatre can be seen on Piccadilly Circus next to the Eros statue.

Tickets

Unfortunately, tickets for this event are no longer available.

We are a member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) and operate within the code of practice STAR sets down for its members.