Theatre Alibi

A new version of Charles Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop.

Curiosity Shop tells the story of Nell Trent, who lives with her grandfather in The Old Curiosity Shop, a vintage record store. When the shop is repossessed by Quilp, a vicious loan shark, Nell and Grandpa find themselves homeless. Whilst living rough they meet con men, Good Samaritans, wide boys and buskers - in pubs, burger bars and doss houses across the length and breadth of England.

This hugely enjoyable and moving story of human frailty, love and downright wickedness has a fabulous cast of characters – from bent lawyer Sally Brass to wide boy rapper Dick E Swiveller.

It is a cracking story and at its heart are things that feel really current right now – debt, gambling, addiction, high youth unemployment, homelessness. This production looks at contemporary Britain with something of a Dicken's eye and the result is a witty translation of 19th century London into the current economic climate.