A Dickens of a tale in Southwick

Tickets are £12 on www.southwickplayers.org.uk, with performances at the Barn Theatre, Southwick, BN42 4TE.

Spokeswoman Anita Jones said: “Two of the most famous lines in English literature bookend Dickens’ epic and magnificent novel A Tale of Two Cities. It begins ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’ and is a tale of love – requited and unrequited, of loyalty, of spies and treachery, of fear and courage, all set against the harsh background of the French Revolution.

“This wonderful stage adaptation of Dickens’ sweeping story is told by the proprietors and customers of a coaching inn. They transform the coach yard into the Bastille prison, the London home of Dr Manette, the road to Dover and the Defarge wine shop in Paris. In the shadow of Madame Guillotine, Lucie and her father fight to save the life of her husband Charles Darnay, incarcerated as an enemy of the state. Meanwhile, Madame Defarge knits the names of all transgressors into a long, long scarf that she will use to bring them to their dreadful end. Sidney Carton, a clever and professionally successful, but dissolute fellow, has always loved Lucie so much that he is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, giving us the extraordinary final line: ‘It is a far, far better thing that I do. It is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.’”

Also coming is That’ll Be The Day bringing their festive show to town. Fresh off their autumn tour, the company are taking the Christmas edition of their production around the UK where audiences can expect a celebration of festive pop culture from the 50s right through to the 80s. They will be in Worthing on December 14 in the Assembly Hall.

Spokeswoman Romy Journée said: “Audiences can expect a line-up of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll classics of all time, performed by an outstanding ensemble of first-class vocalists as well as a laugh-out-loud selection of comedy’s most beloved sketches.”

Tickets from the venue.