John Ruskin wrote that Charles Dickens lived in ‘A circle of stage fire’. Dickens said  ‘I was an actor and a speaker since I was a baby’. At the age of twenty he was granted an audition at Covent Garden theatre but could not attend because of illness. The following year he had articles published and put thoughts of the professional stage behind him. Nevertheless, the theatre dominated his imagination. He wrote seven plays and he acted with amateurs and professionals in Great Britain and Canada. In this talk we will follow Dickens’ literary and theatrical career.

Frances Hughes is a freelance lecturer in theatre history and art for NADFAS, the National Portrait Gallery, The National Trust etc. She is Chairman of the Irving Society and Hon. Sec. of the Shakespeare Reading Society (founded 1875)

Tickets: £18.50 (includes one course lunch and coffee).

If you have any special dietary requirements please call the box office on 01635 46044. Please note that seating is ‘unreserved’ unless you are in a party of six or more.