Talks and live readings bringing stories of Charles Dickens to life at his birthplace.
Charles Dickens Birthplace: Talks & Readings Programme kicks off at the Charles Dickens' Birthplace Museum on Thursday 2 July, a series of talks and live readings that bring the stories of Charles Dickens to life in the very house where he was born. It's a programme built around his writing, with the readings and talks taking place right here in Portsmouth, the city that saw his earliest years.
The format is straightforward: live readings of Dickens' work paired with talks that flesh out the stories, all held within the museum itself. It's a way of hearing his voice read aloud in the place he started from, rather than just reading it on a page. The readings are the centre of the thing, with the talks providing the context around them, so you get the text and the background in one go.
It's aimed at adults and families with a fondness for classic literature and for Dickens himself, and it works as a standalone visit as much as part of a wider interest in his life. If you've spent any time with his books, hearing them read aloud in the house where he was born adds a layer you won't get from a paperback. The museum is the venue and the subject all at once, so the whole thing stays tied to the building.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Portsmouth and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
The programme runs from the Charles Dickens' Birthplace Museum in Portsmouth, with the first date on 2 July. There's no word yet on whether it's free or ticketed, so you'll need to check with the museum for the full details on that.
