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Charles Dickens' 200th Birthday Events

Charles Dickens' birth place

Today is the birthday of Charles Dickens. He was born on 7th February 2012 at 1 Mile End Terrace (Old Commercial Road) 200 years ago.

Today, the street where Dickens was born will be transformed into a Victorian street scene, complete with performers and market traders.

30 members of The Pickwick Bicycle Club will ride penny farthings from Cosham to the Birthplace.

A ceremony outside his birthplace begins at 10.30am with speeches from the Lord Mayor and Dickens's great, great grandson Ian Dickens, and Portsmouth Dickens Fellowship.

Over 100 children from Charles Dickens Junior school in Dickensian dress will also be attending.

At 12pm a service of thanksgiving at St Mary's Church, where Shelia Hancock and Simon Callow will both give readings. St John's RC Primary School choir will be singing songs from Oliver!

Back at Charles Dickens Birthplace, Brian Conley will be making a personal appearance as Fagin at 1.30pm.

There will be a performance of The Ballad of Charles Dickens at Old Commercial Road, at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm, from Portsmouth University drama department.

Simon Callow will also be performing at The New Theatre Royal, reading excerpts from his book ‘Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World.

David Copperfield also begins its run at The King Theatre.

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