CHARLES DICKENS (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic, generally regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian period. Many of his novels have been famously adapted for the stage and screen, including Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby.

JO CLIFFORD is Professor of Theatre and Bill Findlay Fellow of Stage Translation at Queen Margaret's University College Edinburgh, and Associate Playwright of the Playwrights' Studio, Scotland. Her plays, including the original works Every One, Losing Venice, Light in the Village and The Tree of Knowledge, and adaptations of Faust, Celestina, Blood Wedding, Yerma, Life is a Dream and The House of Bernarda Alba are all published by NHB. Jo lives in Edinburgh.