As he brings a show about Charles Dickens back to the county, Lesley Bellew speaks to the Victorian author’s great great grandson.

Gerald Dickens did not always quite grasp his great, great grandfather’s love of theatre and just thought of him as Charles Dickens, the author.

It was not until he was asked as a jobbing actor to give a reading of A Christmas Carol that he began to understand his ancestor’s energetic readings of the 1860s.

Currently in high demand owing to the celebrations of Dickens’ 200th birthday this year, Gerald said: “I was not an academic. I went to Huntley’s Secondary School for Boys, in Tunbridge Wells, and then on to the West Kent College, in Tonbridge, to study theatre and drama.

“I wanted to be an actor but it was not easy. I spent more time doing other jobs to fill the gaps.

“It was not until I was 30 that I had this opportunity to read A Christmas Carol to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the book. It went down well and I loved it – so everything happened from there.

“I created a one-man show and have been working and travelling the country, and overseas, ever since.

“I now have a fascination with the life and works of Dickens and I have written more one-man shows including Mr Dickens is Coming! Nicholas Nickleby and Sketches by Boz.”

Gerald, who was born and spent most of his life in Kent but who now lives near Oxford, is always keen to return to the county. He has performed his show An Audience with Charles Dickens here many times and returns once more with the show this week.

He said: “I perform in theatres, at arts and literary festivals and on cruise ships but I love coming home to Kent.

“My new show, The Complete Works of Charles Dickens will be premiered at Chatham Historic Dockyard in May. It features extracts from all of his major novels in chronological order. It is so exciting to perform in Chatham during the bicentenary year.

“Charles spent the happiest days of his childhood in and around the Dockyard and it was here that so many of his characters and plots were born. I can think of no better place to celebrate his life and career.”

An Audience with Charles Dickens, a solo performance of some of the author’s greatest scenes by Gerald Dickens, comes to Gravesend’s Woodville Halls on Thursday, March 22. Tickets £15. Box office 01474 3377774.

The Complete Works of Charles Dickens takes place at the Royal Dockyard Church at Chatham Historic Dockyard on Wednesday, May 16 at 2.30pm. The event is on behalf of The Medway Archive and Local Studies Centre, supported by the KM Group. Following the performance there is an opportunity to take afternoon tea in Commissioner’s House, Britain’s oldest naval building and then to join the Dickens’ Dockyard Tour. Tickets £15, with afternoon tea £25. Call 01634 823815. The show will also be at the Dickens House Museum, Broadstairs, on Monday, June 18. Call 01843 863453.