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Dickens Festival at Rochester
Dickens Festival at Rochester

Miss Havisham, Oliver Twist and the ghost of Christmas Past all together in one place? It can only mean one thing: it’s time for celebrations at the annual Dickens Festival. Kaynat Choudhury reports.

It’s that time of year again when the streets of Rochester turn the clock back to celebrate their most famous resident, Charles Dickens.

The author lived in Medway for almost 20 years, absorbing the architecture, characters and colour and this year to mark his bicentenary, Rochester Dickens Festival is promising to be the best yet.

The annual celebration of all things Dickensian and Victorian runs from Friday, June 8 to Sunday, June 10 with each day distinctly themed to celebrate the author’s love of Medway. Friday’s theme is children’s day, Saturday focuses on the grand pageant and Sunday is commemorative day.

Thousands of visitors travel from across the county to be a part of the festival, many in Victorian-themed costume. Like previous years, the Dickens Festival aims to provide family fun and a chance to learn about Rochester through the eyes of Dickens.

Children’s day focuses on activities such as gurning (where kids can pull whatever face they want), a dressing-up competition, a workhouse tea party and interactive sessions allowing youngsters to live life as a wealthy Victorian child complete with a butler, cook and housemaids. The evening will end at the Corn Exchange with a grand circus show featuring wire walkers and trapeze artists.

Dickens Festival at Rochester
Dickens Festival at Rochester

The Saturday’s highlight is a grand pageant brimming with characters from many of Dickens’ novels, including Great Expectations, Oliver Twist and David Copperfield. This type of show has never been done before in any of Rochester’s Dickens festivals.

“It’s something new and different to celebrate 200 years of Dickens,” said Ashley Davis, pageant master.

To mark its significance, the pageant, complete with street urchins and an MC announcing each character, will lead the parade from Rochester Railway Station, down the High Street to the Esplanade and up the steps to the gardens of Rochester Castle where the characters are scrutinised by Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens himself.

Adults get the chance to enter competitions such as Mr and Mrs Rochester, best dressed Dickens character and best dressed newcomer. In the evening, a cheese and wine reception will be followed by a detailed insight into the life of Dickens with Gerald Dickens, the great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens, written especially for the bicentenary celebrations. Sunday – commemorative day – features a grand parade where anyone and everyone can dress up and take part in. Throughout the three days, The Vines, one of Dickens’ favourite parks, is open for families to relax. There will also be a number of fairs popping up, including a craft fair, tea tent and a funfair.

New exhibition

The Guildhall Museum in Rochester High Street is hosting a new exhibition as well as Dickens’ discovery room.

The discovery room holds objects that belonged to Dickens, such as toys, furniture and ornaments. ‘A World Made Real – Dickens and Victorian Life’ will be separated into eight different categories, such as Victorian classroom, Victorian death, transport and travel and food and drink.

Hero or Zero? play

Theatre is always an important part of any Dickens festival and this year will be no exception. There will be performances across the weekend including at the cathedral garden where Charles Dickens – Hero or Zero? a play by Alis Hawkins takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

The same two days, Eastgate House gardens will act as a stage for Dicken: About, a look into the mind of the author. Other shows and sessions are taking place at the Rochester community hub, the Guildhall forecourt, Eastgate House and Rochester Pier.

Dickens Festival at Rochester
Dickens Festival at Rochester

Friday, June 8 – Children’s Day

The opening parade starts at noon from Star Hill.

Mr Sleary’s Grand Circus Show from 7.30pm, Corn Exchange, Tickets £8, children, £5. For more information, 01634 338338 or www.medwaytickets live.co.uk.

Saturday, June 9 – Grand Pageant Day

Grand pageant starts at 1.30pm from Rochester Castle.

An Evening with Gerald Dickens from 7.30pm, Corn Exchange. Tickets £18. For more information, 01634 338338 orwww.medwayticketslive.co.uk

Sunday, June 10 – Commemorative Day

The grand parade starts at 1.30pm from Rochester station. More details at www.rochester dickensfestival.org.uk orwww.medway.gov.uk

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