His Dark Materials

Synopsis

A two-play dramatisation of Philip Pullman's extraordinary award-winning fantasy trilogy, first seen at the National Theatre.

<i>His Dark Materials</i> 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.

Note to performers: although conceived for a theatre with rich resources, this adaptation can also be staged in imaginative ways without the aid of sophisticated technology.

'Nicholas Wright... has risen to the challenge with brilliance' - <i>Mail on Sunday</i>

'"Unstageable" was the first reaction of the National Theatre's artistic director, Nicholas Hytner, to the idea of dramatising His Dark Materials.

But last night's opening has triumphantly proved him wrong' - <i>Sunday Times</i>

'Children's theatre of an uncommon maturity and ambition... dazzling in just the right way... moments of heart-stopping simplicity' - <i>Independent</i>

'The hottest ticket in town long before press day...

Book to see it next Christmas' - <i>Financial Times</i>