Havisham

A journey into the psyche of Miss Havisham from Great Expectations.

Written and Performed by Award winning actress Heather Alexander.
Direction and Dramaturg by Dominique Gerrard.

If you knew my story, your heart would break too. A cobwebbed tale of heartbreak. This is the story that Dickens left out…

Who was the woman being behind Dickens’ most monstrous female creation? What condemned the hopeful young Miss Havisham to her cruel and fractured fate? Experience her heartbreak as we delve into her childhood trauma and follow her on an intricate journey to a world where she finds herself the leading lady in a drama she can’t comprehend. The gaslighting is subtle, the coercive control slick. Can Miss Havisham escape her twisted karma?

Havisham offers a fresh perspective of Dickens’ greatest work of Gothic characterisation and invites the audience to share poignant moments from her childhood in rural Kent and as a naïve young woman who arrives in London unprepared for the events which gradually consume her.

The story appeals to both fans of Dickens as well as those new to his stories and confronts how the ripples of fate can lead to devastating consequences.

‘Powerful, tense, heart-breaking’ Broadway Baby

'Gorgeously written and packed with haunting imagery' The Stage

'This is a beautifully crafted piece of theatre, whether you are a fan of Dickens or not. The story stands strong alone' WEBF

'Heather Alexander expertly mines the horror beneath Dickens’ most Gothic character' The RECS

'Havisham stands out for its original and skilful narrative craft, as if characters and atmospheres were drawn from the pages of a literary piece, while simultaneously, opening a poignant contemplation on the power of trauma over the psyche and body of its sufferers' Theatre Weekly

‘Intriguing…the story intertwines smoothly…’ Theatre Film and Arts Reviews

‘As ever with Alexander, this is a masterclass in acting’ Fringe Review