Great writers, new voices: Portsmouth's literary legends take to the stage

Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, H.G. Wells and Rudyard Kipling are being brought together on stage in a rollicking theatrical production celebrating Portsmouth's remarkable literary past – and the grassroots artists shaping its creative scene today.

Dickens & Co. at Theatre Royal Portsmouth on Monday 9th November, is part of the Portsmouth100 programme marking 100 years since Portsmouth was granted city status.

Written by Carole Carrell and Vincent Adams, the production brings together theatre, spoken word, music, song and dance, with a cast featuring established and emerging talent from across Portsmouth's creative community. Among those taking to the stage are Tim Suffolk of the Dickens Fellowship, Bash Amuneni, Han Newton, Christine Lawrence, Tina MacNaughton, Richard Williams and Portsmouth Poet Laureate Jackson Davies.

From grassroots to the grand stage

At the heart of the project is an opportunity for grassroots performers, many more accustomed to appearing at open mics, community events, poetry nights and smaller venues, to perform on one of the city's most iconic stages.

Artistic Director Caroline Brennan said: "Finding a platform as an emerging performer can be incredibly difficult. Opportunities are often few and far between, and there can be a reluctance to take a chance on people who don't already have an established name.

At the same time, we're losing many of the smaller spaces where artists traditionally had the freedom to experiment, develop their craft and find an audience. When those opportunities disappear, we don't just lose venues – we risk losing creativity, imagination and the chance to discover extraordinary new talent.

That's why giving grassroots performers the opportunity to step onto a stage like Theatre Royal Portsmouth feels so important. There is an enormous amount of talent in this city. Sometimes people simply need somebody to open the door and give them the space to show what they can do.

And that's why I'd urge people to support projects like this. Buy the ticket. Turn up. Take a chance on somebody you haven't heard of before. Grassroots creativity can only thrive if there's an audience willing to stand behind it. Creatives who support other creatives are my kind of people – because when we champion each other, the whole cultural landscape becomes richer."

The production has been made possible with support from Portsmouth City Council as part of Portsmouth100, alongside the support of Theatre Royal Portsmouth, helping a community-rooted project make the leap onto a major city stage.

A city of literary giants

Portsmouth's rich literary history provides the starting point for the production.

Dickens, Conan Doyle, Wells and Kipling all have connections with the city, and Dickens & Co. brings their very different literary worlds together in an original piece of theatre.

Show Producer Carole Carrell said: "Bringing Dickens & Co. to Theatre Royal Portsmouth has been a joy for me. Portsmuthians are carrying on the literary legacy of not only Dickens but also Kipling, Conan Doyle and H.G. Wells. This show is a celebration of the astonishing creativity which abounds in the city."

The timing of the production is particularly fitting during Portsmouth100, as the city looks back over its history while celebrating the communities and creativity that continue to define Portsmouth today.

Keeping the Dickens legacy alive

Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth in 1812, and his association with the city remains an important part of its literary identity more than two centuries later.

That connection will have an added significance on the night, with Emily Dickens, Charles Dickens' great-great-great-granddaughter, attending the performance.

Emily will welcome audiences to the show and speak about her ancestor's legacy, his Portsmouth roots and the importance of continuing to engage new generations with his work.

Emily Dickens said: "It is wonderful to see that Charles Dickens is still loved and appreciated by so many people, and his connection to Portsmouth. We love coming to visit his birthplace and seeing the museum and seeing how strong his heritage is to this day."

Portsmouth's next chapter

For the team behind the production, bringing together Portsmouth's celebrated literary heritage and the creativity flourishing in the city today is central to Dickens & Co.

Caroline added: "We have these enormous literary names connected with Portsmouth, but we also have an extraordinary amount of talent right here in our city today. Dickens & Co. is ambitious, it's a little bit bonkers and it is very proudly Pompey."

Dickens & Co. is at Theatre Royal Portsmouth on Monday 9 November 2026 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 and £15 and are available from Theatre Royal Portsmouth.