Ronnie, Reggie & Me

Fred Dinenage brings Ronnie, Reggie & Me to The Lens Studio in Portsmouth on Wednesday 25 November, starting at 19:30. It's a show built around his book, a personal account of life alongside the Kray twins written by their official biographer.

If you've heard the name but don't know the story, the twins were the notorious figures of the 1960s London underworld. Identical in look but sharply different in personality, they built a criminal empire out of protection rackets, armed robbery and violent enforcement. To those in their inner circle, though, they came across as charming and charismatic. Ronnie is portrayed as the volatile and deeply troubled one, while Reggie seemed more controlled and business-minded, though equally ruthless. The show looks at how their bond shaped an unbreakable yet destructive partnership, and how they mingled with celebrities, politicians and high society, blurring the line between the criminal underworld and glamour. It doesn't shy away from the violence that eventually led to their arrest and life imprisonment.

Because the show is based on Dinenage's own book, it's framed around memory, loyalty and the enduring fascination with crime. It offers a rare glimpse into the private world of Ronnie and Reggie from someone who knew them, rather than just the public version of the story. It's less of a crime report and more of a personal account, blending memory and reflection with historical insight.

It's a single evening at The Lens Studio on 25 November, with the show starting at 19:30.