Hard Times

This is a very fine musical theatre adaptation of Dickens’ novel Hard Times that has never been produced. It is crying out for some enterprising theatre Producer or Artistic Director to give it its world première performance.

The show can be played by 12 principal performers — 7 men and 5 women — with a further company of 4 doubling the minor roles. This ensemble can also play the children in Gradgrind’s school, or real children can be used if preferred.

Characters

Thomas Gradgrind — MP, Member of Parliament for Coketown
Mrs Gradgrind — his wife
Tom Gradgrind — their son
Louisa Gradgrind — their daughter, later Bounderby’s wife
Sissy Jupe — living in the Gradgrind household

Josiah Bounderby — banker and mill-owner in Coketown
Mrs Sparsit — his housekeeper
Bitzer — porter in Bounderby’s bank
Stephen Blackpool — one of Bounderby’s hands
Joseph Sleary — a circus-owner

James Harthouse — a cad

A mysterious old woman

Mr M’Choakumchild — schoolmaster
Mr Pounder — school Commissioner

Dr Outhwaite

A Waiter — at the Royal Hotel, Coketown
A Maid — in the Gradgrind household
A Maid — in the Bounderby household
Pupils — of Coketown school

Members of Sleary’s circus