One of the darkest and most romantic of Dickens’ novels, A Tale of Two Cities was adapted for the stage by the dream-team of Terence Rattigan and John Gielgud, and recently had its London/World premiere in a daring production by King’s Head Theatre artistic director Adam Spreadbury-Maher.

In a time when governments all over the world are facing down political unrest and fierce protests, this revolutionary story has never been more relevant.

Retaining the thrill and tension of the French Revolutionary setting but merging it with a modern, East London aesthetic, the production reimagines Dickens’ dangerous and doomed antihero Sydney Carton as a member of the 27 Club (which includes Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse).

The adaptation marries three of the finest artists in their own fields that England has ever known: Dickens the master story-teller, Rattigan the great playwright and Gielgud the mercurial actor. Gielgud intended to play both Sidney Carton and a number of other roles, and this production will realise that ambition - by having thirty characters played by just eight actors.

The Director - Adam Spreadbury-Maher: Grew up in Canberra and is an Australian born theatre and opera director, adaptor and Artistic Director. Originally training as an operatic tenor in Canberra, he moved to London to study directing at the Central School of Speech and Drama in 2005. In 2009 he founded the Cock Tavern Theatre and in 2010 became the Artistic Director of the King’s Head Theatre. He is currently hailed as one of the top directors in London.

This production at The Q will be the Australian Premiere of Rattigan and Gielgud's adaption of a well-loved classic.