Performance dates: 26-31 March 2001
Venue: The Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke

Synopsis

Arthur Kipps, an orphan now aged twenty, is an apprentice shop man in Mr Shalford's Drapery Emporium, one of the most fashionable shops in late Victorian Folkestone. Ann Pornick, Sid's sister, is Kipps' childhood sweetheart, but they don't have much opportunity to spend time together. To Make up for this, Kipps gives Ann a token of his love - half a sixpence, so that Ann can be reminded of him when they are apart. One day, whilst in the shop, Kipps literally bumps into an excitable actor called Chitterlow, who informs him that Kipps is about to inherit a large legacy.

With all this money, Kipps tries to better himself, and leaves Ann for Helen Walsingham, of a local family who think they are a cut above the rest. Helen, who does love Kipps, is also determined to improve him. Helen's brother, at the same time, begins to take over Kipps' financial affairs.

Some time later, Kipps meets Ann again when she is employed as a servant at the home of Mrs Botting, a friend of Helen's mother. On seeing Ann treated badly by her employer, Kipps soon realises that the people he is surrounded by have attitudes and values very different to his own. Knowing that it is Ann he really loves, he stops his engagement to Helen and returns to Ann, who he marries.

Kipps is still rather careless with his money, and decides to have a large house built. Unfortunately, Helen's brother has continued to speculate with Kipps' money with disastrous results. He has to sell the house, and just has enough left to rent a bookshop with accommodation for himself and Ann.

A year later, they have started a family, and are relatively content with their new, modest, lifestyle. Until, that is, Chitterlow returns unexpectedly one day with some surprising news...