Museums And Archives

Please Take Your Seats: Exploring Dickens and Performance

Charles Dickens is a master storyteller, and although he is remembered as a novelist, Dickens wrote to be read out loud, knowing that most people would hear, rather than read, his words. The same is true today. Using the opportunity of our centenary year, this project will help us to reach people who normally experience Dickens through performance, rather than through reading or engaging with heritage collections. We hold a substantial amount of unexplored material in our collection that links to performance, and this project will allow us to work with community partners and local people to create a special exhibition on Dickens and performance and an associated programme of activities to engage new audiences, including under-represented groups (children, young people, families, and older people). Strengthening local relationships will help to grow our supporter base, and adding project content to our digital resources will further cement the project’s legacy.