A GROUP of theatre students will have Great Expectations of their performance of Charles Dickens' classic novel in Taunton as part of their West Country tour.

Bristol's Old Vic Theatre School will bring their production of the author's thirteenth novel to the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre in Monkton Heathfield on Tuesday, June 14.

The production will also visit Poole, Dorset, and three venues in Bristol between Thursday, June 2 and Saturday, June 18.

The theatre school has previously toured its productions of Canterbury Tales, Mill on the Floss, and Under Milk Wood.

The school has toured since the 1950s with the belief that it helps prepare them for life in the industry. 

Old Vic alumni including Sir Daniel Day-Lewis, Olivia Colman, Sir Patrick Stewart, and Naomie Harris OBE have all performed at West Country village halls and arts centres.

Somerset County Gazette: Actors read their Great Expectation scripts in a rehearsal. Picture: Old Vic Theatre SchoolActors read their Great Expectation scripts in a rehearsal. Picture: Old Vic Theatre School

Other graduates include Erin Doherty and Josh O'Connor (The Crown), Laura Carmichael (Downton Abbey), Billy Howle (The Serpent), Phil Dunster (Ted Lasso), and Nancy Farino (Anatomy of a Scandal).

Great Expectations follows the story of a young orphan called Pip, who grows up in the marshlands of Kent before transforming into a Victorian gentleman in London.

He gets caught up in a world of compelling characters such as the frightful Miss Havisham, the mysterious convict Magwitch, and the alluring Estella.

Somerset County Gazette: Students in rehearsals for Great Expectations. Picture: Old Vic Theatre SchoolStudents in rehearsals for Great Expectations. Picture: Old Vic Theatre School

Director Jenny Stephens said: “The students and I are so excited to be bringing this production of Great Expectations on tour.

“It’s perhaps one of Dickens’ more happy and humorous works, and the joy which has radiated from the rehearsal process is testament to that.

“The company has embraced every opportunity to stay true to the text and provide authenticity - they even organised a field trip to visit local artist blacksmith Sam Bailey at his forge!”

The Old Vic Theatre School will perform Great Expectations at the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, School Road, Monkton Heathfield, on Tuesday, June 14 at 7:30pm.