Charles Dickens

The Rochester Dickens Festival is one of the biggest celebrations of this author in the country.
2018 marked its 40th anniversary.
I was asked to appear as Mr Dickens and to relate stories about his childhood.
Slightly out of my usual character. I have always chosen ‘ordinary’ characters to comment on and illustrate the great and the good.
This time I was to be ‘the subject’. Mannerisms and a ’voice’ would have to be found.
Not only that I would have to find a full outfit.
The research of his life and times was interesting, covering Victorian schools, the Navy, Warrens Blacking Factory and the Marshalsea Prison, not to mention his well-documented life.
The storyline came quite naturally out of his life history.
The outfit from a local theatrical costumier.
His story is at least as interesting and even as disturbing as a lot of his books.
The weekend itself was very good. Lots of interest despite lots of other shows.

A comment from a recent Rotary Club  client, May 2022 –

Our members and guests were delighted to meet you and thoroughly enjoyed your monologue, which really brought to life the challenges and triumphs of Charles Dickens.  I’ve had lots of positive comments and one or two people have been inspired to read or reread some of his novels, or find out more about the great man.

It was the perfect way for our club to get together with guests and take a leaf out of Charles Dickens’ book in terms of moving forward  forward with confidence that our club will survive and thrive, after a couple of years where Covid has prevented us from meeting in person.

Thank goodness he had the determination to improve his lot and the observational skills to create some larger than life characters.  How wonderful that you were inspired to interpret his story and share it with us so convincingly.  Mr Dickens would be proud of your performance.

With thanks and best wishes from all members of Leatherhead Rotary.  I hope you may be able to entertain us in another guise in the future.