Stephen opens as John Faa in 'His Dark Materials' Parts 1 and 2
based on the novels by Philip Pullman, adapted by Nicholas Wright, at
the National (Olivier Theatre), South Bank, London SE1. Part 1
opens from 4th December; Part 2 from 13th December until 20th March
04. Box Office 020 7452 3000 or book online at
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk (Tickets for under 18's are all £12.)

The Play(s): This riveting story unfolds over the course of two
plays, approximately 3 hours each part. There are as many worlds as
there are possibilities. I toss a coin. It comes down heads. But in
another world, it comes down tails. Every time that a choice is made,
or a chance is missed, or a fork in a road is taken… a world is
born for each of the other things that might have happened. And
there, they do.

His Dark Materials takes us on a thrilling journey through worlds
familiar and unknown. For Lyra and Will, its two central characters,
it's a coming of age and a transforming spiritual experience.
Their great quest demands a savage struggle against the most
dangerous of enemies. They encounter fantastical creatures in
parallel worlds - rebellious angels, soul-eating spectres, child-
catching Gobblers and the armoured bears and witch-clans of the
Arctic. Finally, before reaching, perhaps, the republic of heaven,
they must visit the land of the dead.

It's an epic production both in its narrative scope and its
staging, involving artists from new technologies as well as old.
Nicholas Wright adapts Philip Pullman's three novels into two big
plays for a cast of more than 30. His Dark Materials is one of the
National's most ambitious projects, and aims to create an experience
as meaningful for 12 year olds as for adults.

We aren't going to attempt to organise a Horizon group outing for
this as the logistics involved in getting people to see the 2 parts,
in order, with very limited ticket availability would be impossible.
We recommend that you book up for this as soon as possible as tickets
are going VERY fast. Anyone who's read the Pullman novels won't need
telling that this is a theatrical event NOT to be missed.