Media Gallery

Production Photographs

Seating Plan

Main House Seaing Plan

Rehearsal Photographs

For age 12+

Running time approx 3 hours including one interval

Special Dates

Audio

  • Listen to this page from our Audio Brochure
  • Audio Introduction to His Dark Materials

This event is part of the His Dark Materials season.

His Dark Materials Part 2

A thrilling journey through worlds familiar and unknown

19/03/09 – 18/04/09


Spotlight Special with Philip Pullman

Philip Pullman talks about his epic trilogy *His Dark Materials* in this special Spotlight

24/03/09 – 24/03/09


Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company in association with West Yorkshire Playhouse presents

His Dark Materials Part 1

Fri 13 Mar 2009 – Sat 18 Apr 2009

Main House

Archive

Based on the trilogy of novels by Philip Pullman

Adapted by Nicholas Wright

RUN NOW EXTENDED UNTIL 18 APRIL

Part One of a two part story – Find out dates and book for Part Two

Part One of a two part story – Find out dates and book for Part Two

His Dark Materials takes us on a thrilling journey through worlds familiar and unknown. Adapted from Philip Pullman’s three novels into two full-length plays, Nicholas Wright’s stage version directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, promises to be an exciting theatrical event.

Philip Pullman’s magical story unfolds in a world where young girl Lyra lives in an Oxford very like our own, but strangely different with other people’s souls brought to life as animal companions, known as daemons.

When Lyra overhears her Uncle, Lord Asriel, arguing with the religious authorities about mysterious “dust”, she embarks on an incredible journey to the Arctic to try and discover the truth. She meets the dangerously enticing Mrs Coulter and learns the secrets of the truth-telling Alethiometer. Along the way she encounters fantastical creatures in parallel worlds – armoured bears, flying witches and child-catching Gobblers.

In an eerie deserted city, Lyra meets a young boy, Will, who is on the run. Her fate is strangely linked to his own, and together they must find the most powerful weapon of all – a magical knife that can take them to parallel worlds.

See what the audience thought of the show:

See clips of the show and interviews with cast and creative team:

Date Time Date information
Fri 13th Mar 2009 19:00
Sat 14th Mar 2009 19:00
Sat 21st Mar 2009 14:00
Mon 23rd Mar 2009 19:00
Tue 24th Mar 2009 19:00
Thu 26th Mar 2009 14:00
Fri 27th Mar 2009 19:00
Sat 28th Mar 2009 14:00
Tue 31st Mar 2009 19:00
Thu 2nd Apr 2009 14:00 Theatre Day, BSL Interpreted Performance, Audio Described Performance
Fri 3rd Apr 2009 19:00 Spotlight
Sat 4th Apr 2009 14:00 Captioned Performance
Tue 7th Apr 2009 14:00
Wed 8th Apr 2009 14:00
Thu 9th Apr 2009 14:00
Sat 11th Apr 2009 14:00
Thu 16th Apr 2009 14:00
Fri 17th Apr 2009 14:00
Sat 18th Apr 2009 14:00

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Comments

carl from Birmingham

Love the books and heard amazing things about the NT version of this. I'm so chuffed this is coming to the REP!

Helen Manley

I have seen the NT production and it was fabulous! I am really excited to be able to see it again at the Rep. Looking forward to it!

Soph from Birmingham

I love the books and really want to see this!

Reinhard Menken from Bochum/Germany

I've booked yesterday and i'm so happy to see HDM finally on stage after reading the books several times.

Cecile from France

If it's as good as the NT production it will be amazing - and much better than the film!

Mark from Wiltshire

Hi, can you please advise if this production will tour after The Rep?

Steph from The REP

Hi Mark Yes, His Dark Materials will go on tour after its run at The REP, to the following venues: The Lowry, Salford Thu 23 - Sun 26 April * Oxford Playhouse Wed 29 April - Sun 3 May * Bromley Churchill Theatre Wed 6 – Sun 10 May * Royal & Derngate, Northampton Wed 13 – Sun 17 May * Edinburgh Festival Theatre Tue 19 – Sat 23 May * West Yorkshire Playhouse Thu 28 May – Sat 20 June * I hope this helps!

Jo Strachan from Birmingham

Hi. I am looking at buying tickets for one of the Friday Nights. I want to do this using the under 25's go free. Would I need to buy the tickets and then get a refund or would I need to call and book. Would you please let me know. Thanks

Steph from The REP

Hi Jo - thanks for your message. If you're between 14-26 we are offering free tickets on friday evenings as part of the 'A Night Less Ordinary' scheme - you can find out more about this here http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/about/audience-ambitions/a-night-less-ordinary/ - and to book your ticket simply telephone the Box Office on 0121 236 4455 and mention the 'A Night Less Ordinary' scheme. I suggest you book as soon as possible, since these tickets are limited and I would hate for you to be disappointed.

Jacqui from Worcestershire

As I haven't read these books, can you tell me what age they are suitable for please. I am a young OAP but I have youngsters around!

Greg Musson from Stratford-upon-Avon

Just to say good luck to the Cast and Crew of His Dark Materials for their final week of rehersals. I am coming friday night to the first preview, it cannot come fast enough, I am very excited.

Steph from The REP

Hi Jacqui - thank you for your message. We're recommending that the His Dark Materials plays are most suitable for anyone aged 12 or above. I hope you'll be able to bring your family to experience these two magical performances!

Kate from Wolverhampton

Saw part one last night, loved every moment of it. Looking forward to seeing part two!

Greg Musson from Stratford-upon-Avon

Saw Part One on friday, deserves to run and run, enchanting and totally electrifying. Congratulations to the Rep on a stunning night out! Can't wait to see Part 2 on friday.

Trish from Birmingham

Have now seen part 1 and 2, I enjoyed every minute of both, I have never read any of the books so had no idea what they were going to be like, but the plays were brilliant.

Kathy from Solihull

Thoroughly enjoyed Part 1 yesterday. It was spellbinding and captivating. Kept us enthralled. Looking forward to Part 2 next week.

Colin Litlte from Buckingham

The stagecraft and puppetry are magnificent. They plotline is a bit too dense and fast to translate well on the stage. But no matter, the armoured bears alone are worth the ticket price.

nicola from Hall Green

Have been to see part 1 and 2 with my children. Absolutely fantastic.My husband thought it was a great adaptation of the books. We all loved the daemons.The actors who worked with the puppets made the charcters their own and very believeable. The performance on each night is long, as there is lots to tell, but the production enables us to become completely engrossed in the story,all thanks to a very hard working group of actors.A complete hit with all the family.

Bren from Halesowen

Saw parts one and two on saturday they were fabulous. I wondered how you were going to stage such a complex story i have to say it was fantastic. The costumes, lighting and choreography were excellent. I was transported by a wonderful cast to a magical world where time flew by. I loved this production and recommend it wholeheartedly.

Zoë from Leamington Spa

I saw both parts 1 and 2 on Saturday. I've read the books and saw the NT production. I felt this was an excellent production of the same script, bearing in mind you had smaller resources to work with. My only criticism would be that I think all the characters in Lyra's world need to have a visible daemon, so that it is established as the norm very quickly. Also there were times in scenes when the main daemons were not present because the actor was doing something else.

Richard from Solihull

Saw both parts on Saturday - and was engrossed and enthralled throughout. The puppets were wonderful - especially Iorek. But the actors too - a real tour de force!

Laura from Selly Oak

Saw both parts in one day and was seriously impressed. I have always loved the books but was a little nervous that the production would not do the complex story justice. My fears were wholly unfounded. It was was sensitively adapted and though some cuts were necessary, it worked and didn't feel like there was anything missing. The puppets were wonderful and so was the cast. Loved every second.

Jimmy from Birmingham

saw it on monday and just wanna say it was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was captivated from start to finish good work!!! Although it was pretty boiling and crammed in the theater, but it was a fantastic play, i wanna see it again!!!!

Jon from Tividale

This was my very first theatre experience - I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait for Part 2 tomorrow!

Elaine from Worcester

I thoroughly enjoyed Part One & can`t wait to see Part Two next week!The whole production was excellent, very true to the novels & the puppetry by Blind Summit was incredible!

Reba & Dhruba Biswas from Solihull

We did not read the books but we enjoyed the show of Part 1 & it has been presented very well with the association of puppets. We are looking forward to seeing Part 2.

Doldria from Birmingham

Having never read the books, didn't know what to expect from the play. Thoroughly enjoyed Part 1, especially the way the Daemons were portrayed on stage.

Mathew from Birmingham

Saw both parts over a couple of days and have to say this is a wondeful production. Thoroughly engrossing it makes the time fly by - have booked to see both again in April and can't wait!!

Anna from Birmingham

Saw the second part last night - made me cry actually. The scene when Lyra has to leave Pan behind - heartbreaking! Website admins, please pass on my respect to the actor who played Pan. While the whole production and the cast was amazing; I think his performance was truly outstanding and I couldn't take my eyes off his touching, funny and clever play! Thank you!!!

Amenda Sun from Birmingham

I watched the show last night and went to the spotlight event, it was a great adaption of the book and much better than the film. It was one of the best play I have ever seen and I cannot wait to see Part 2. Thanks for providing such great entertainment.

Luke from Birmingham

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW! The story was always great but great cast, great staging, amazing use of puppets, just an awesome spectacle and the perfect adaptation of the books.

Kate from Wolverhampton

Loved loved loved seeing this - so much so that my friend and I went to see it twice! The second time we saw it all in one day and it was the final performace. Well done to all the cast and crew - an amazing show!

Ben Goodwin from Selly Oak, Birmingham

Truly magical. I didn't think the book would transalte well to the stage, but I was blown away by the performances, sets and costumes.

Dan Kulisa from Solihull

The performance was brilliant, excellent puppetry too. The actors provided excellent parts, and it made clear the story.

Lilian from Birmingham

We saw Parts 1 and 2 on the same day, taking in the matinee and evening performances. We had a great time. The show was extremely enjoyable and, as always, the atmosphere at the Rep was fantastic. Between the performances we used the Rep bar for snacks and drinks. An excellent day out.

Val Lauder from Staffordshire

Pleasingly a play that truly followed the book. The atmosphere was great and I was only sorry that we could not make Part 2. The programme was also very well presented with really interesting information and background.

Julie from Halesowen

Fantastic!! We saw both shows on the same day and both were wonderful. I'm re-reading the books now with a totally new perspective and enjoying them all over again. Congratulations to everyone involved, it was a unique production!

Richard from Walsall

Saw Parts 1& 2 at the National Theatre in London, but this production is even better and the interaction between the puppets and key players were much livelier and enjoyable.

Linda Pearson from Goole

Me, my mum and sister are all huge fans of the book trilogy and missed the opportunity to see the NT production in London, so I jumped at the chance to see this. The production was every bit as thrilling as I'd imagined and then some... The Rep did a really superb job; and what a great venue. I thought seeing Parts 1 and 2 in the same day would be heavy going but the time just slipped by. Thank you to all the cast and REP staff for a wonderful, wonderful experience!

Allan Colman from Swanley

Seen your production in Bromley on Wedneday and Friday evening having been unable to get into the NT one.I thought it was awesome with great casting - Lyra's expressions seemed so right - and the Gallivespians were a hoot. Loved the deamons too!

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