Bicentenary
Rochester
Dickens
Festival 2012
8 –10 June
A spectacular festival of colourful parades,
music, dance, drama and street theatre
More information:
Phone: 01634 338141
Email: [email protected]
www.whatsonmedway.co.uk
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Welcome...
Children’s Day
Friday, 8 June
to a weekend of colourful celebration,
enlightening entertainment and Dickensian
discovery, as we honour the bicentenary
of one of England’s greatest writers.
Fantastic new features
Whether this is your first Rochester Dickens Festival or
you’re a regular, get ready for a feast for the senses.
From costumed parades and street acts to competitions,
readings and a fair, Rochester’s streets and green spaces
will be awash with entertainment. We’ve transformed
the tranquil Vines into a craft fair and performance area
and to celebrate this special year we’ve introduced
themes for each day.
Friday – a day for children, including a special circus
show in the evening.
Rochester Cathedral
8am
Morning prayer
8.30am Holy Communion
5.30pm Choral evensong
Contents
Children’s day
Friday, 8 June ........................3
Grand Pageant Day
Saturday, 9 June....................4
Commemorative Day
Sunday, 10 June ....................5
Sunday – a commemorative day, featuring the
Grand Parade.
Thursday, 7 June
Dickens’ first night ball
Dining and dancing in the grand ballroom to Donn
Barcott and his band. Victorian costumes a must.
Tickets £23.75, available from 01795 843317.
2
Rochester Castle Gardens
Evening entertainment
Competitions
Throughout the festival....6-9
Historic treasures ...........10-11
child can only be entered into one age category.)
At a glance .....................12-17
2pm Baby and children’s Victorian
costume
Categories are: Under 3s; 3-6; 7-11
and 12-15-year-olds.
Map .....................................18
Win £250 of high
street vouchers
Look out for our event stands,
where information assistants
will have quick questionnaires
for you to fill in. Or complete
the survey at
www.surveymonkey.com/s/
dickensfestival
Fill in the questionnaire and you
could win £250 of high street
vouchers. Terms and conditions:
www.medway.gov.uk/rules
The Costume Train
Led by the Mayor of Medway, the
parade will form at the Star Hill end of
the high street, before making its way
into Rochester Castle Gardens, where it
will culminate with the mayor’s
welcoming speech. Everyone is
welcome to dress up and take part.
Free to enter; cash prizes and
trophies to be won. (In each competition a
Acknowledgements ............17
Princes Hall, The Corn Exchange –
11am, 1.10pm, 2.40pm, 4.10pm
A unique experience for 5-11-yearolds, to dress up and learn about life
as a Victorian. The interactive sessions
are 45 minutes long, during which
each child will be invited to take on
the roles of various family members in
a typical wealthy Victorian household,
complete with butler, housemaids and
cook. If your child loves dressing up,
they will love The Costume Train.
Opening Parade – 12noon
Saturday
– welcome to the Grand Pageant Day,
themed around Dickens’ famous novels and iconic
characters.
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"Oliver's pillow was smoothed by gentle hands that night; and
loveliness and virtue watched him as he slept." Oliver Twist
Charles Dickens lived in Medway for almost 20 years,
absorbing the area’s architecture, character and
colour and bringing it to fictional life in some of his
best-known works.
For over three decades we have celebrated our proud
association with Dickens and this year, 200 years after he
was born, we are delighted to present a family festival
packed with Dickensian delight and Victorian intrigue.
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2:30pm Children’s Dickens character
Dress your child as their favourite
Dickens character. Categories are: 3-6;
7-11 and 12-15-year-olds.
3pm Children’s gurning competition
It’s official; this is the day children can
pull any face they want. Categories are:
3-6; 7-11 and 12-15-year-olds.
7.30pm at The Queen’s Hall, Corn
Exchange
Dizzy O’Dare Presents…
Mr Sleary’s Grand Circus Show
Be delighted and amazed by the
travelling circus of yesteryear. Witness
wire walking and flying beauties,
comedy and merriment, amazing
physical feats and much more. This
family spectacular is suitable for all
ages.Tickets £8 adults and £5 children.
Visit www.medwayticketslive.co.uk,
phone 01634 338338 or buy in person
at the Visitor Information Centre.
3:30pm Widow Corney’s
workhouse tea party
Enjoy a limited supply
of gruel (ice cream);
open to children up to
12-years-old in
Victorian costume.
From amusements in The Vines to a traditional fun fair, there’s plenty to entertain
. See pages 6 to 10 for more details.
children throughout the festival.
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Grand Pageant Day
Commemorative Day
Saturday, 9 June
Sunday, 10 June
"When I speak of home, I speak of the place where – in default
of a better – those I love are gathered together. " Nicholas Nickleby
"It's in vain, Trot, to recall the past, unless it works some
influence upon the present." David Copperfield
Rochester Cathedral
8am
8.30am
2pm
3.15pm
Morning prayer
Holy Communion
Choir rehearsal
Choral evensong
hearted, fun-filled
competition to be in with a
chance of taking first place.
Sponsored by Slinders Florist
and Confucious Chinese
Restaurant.
The Grand Pageant
1.30pm
4:30pm Best-dressed
Dickens adult character
Led by the Mayor of Medway and
members of the Dickens family, the
pageant will focus on a select number
of Dickens’ novels and their iconic
characters. There will also be
marching bands, strolling musicians,
street urchins and other costumed
participants.
The pageant will start at Rochester
Railway Station, processing along
Rochester High Street, into The
Esplanade and then climb the steps to
Rochester Castle Gardens. Here it will
be received into the main arena by
the festival’s pageant master, who will
introduce you to each book along
with a number of its characters. If you
would like to be included as one of
the selected novels during the Grand
Pageant, you will need to register
with the pagent master by emailing
[email protected]
Dress as your favourite Dickens
character and show the audience
your knowledge of this character to
be in with a chance of winning.
Rochester Castle Gardens
Competitions
For ladies and gentlemen
Rochester Cathedral
Rochester Castle Gardens
8am
Holy Communion BCP
9.45am Choral mattins
10.30amThe Cathedral Eucharist
4pm
Choral evensong sung by
the Rochester Cathedral
Voluntary Choir. This service
will include the Dickens
Oration which will be given
by Mrs Marian Lloyd, great,
great granddaughter of
Charles Dickens.
Competitions
Sponsored by Mirror Group Newspapers.
Grand Parade – 1.30pm
Evening entertainment
The Grand Parade will form in
Rochester Railway Station car park.
Led by the Mayor of Medway and
members of the Dickens Family, the
parade will travel along Rochester
High Street, into The Esplanade and
climb the steps of Rochester Castle
Gardens to be welcomed into the
main arena. The Mayor of Medway
will close the procession with a thank
you speech. Everyone is welcome to
dress up and take part.
7.30pm at The Queen’s Hall,
Corn Exchange
An Evening with Gerald Dickens,
the great-great grandson of
Charles Dickens
A never-seen-before, detailed insight
into the lives of the Dickens family,
written especially for the bicentenary
festival. The evening will commence
with a cheese and wine reception,
which is included in the ticket price.
Further drinks can be purchased from
the bar prior to the show and during
the interval. Tickets £18. Visit
www.medwayticketslive.co.uk,
phone 01634 338338 or buy in
person at the Visitor
Information Centre.
Free to enter; cash prizes and
trophies to be won.
3.15pm Best-dressed ladies
Ladies, this is your chance to parade
your finest attire in front of the
judges and the arena audience. At
least two items of the costume must
be home-made. Sponsored by
Mirror Group Newspapers.
3.45pm Best-dressed gentleman
Gentlemen, step up and be
judged on your pristine attire
and impeccable deportment. At
least two items of the costume
must be home-made.
Sponsored by Dickens World,
Chatham.
4pm Adult gurning competition
Is your face made of putty? Can you
contort your features to fantastical
effect? Then put your mouth where
your nose is and get gurning.
Free to enter; cash prizes and
trophies to be won.
3:45pm Mr and Mrs Rochester
Who will be the Mr and Mrs
Rochester of 2012? Enter this light-
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5
Throughout
the festival
The Vines
Just a couple of minutes from the
high street, The Vines is Rochester’s
tranquil retreat, with a unique
history and heritage. The park was a
favourite haunt of Dickens and
featured in several of his novels. He
was seen walking in The Vines just
three days before his death.
Always a favourite place for families
to relax and have a picnic, this year
The Vines is also bursting with things
to do and see.
Rochester Cathedral Garden
The following entertainment
and attractions can be
experienced on all days of the
festival between 10am and
5pm, unless otherwise stated.
The Amazing Travelling
Camera Obscura
Miss Kay Rouse and Mr Tony Atthow
present a show of their celebrated
eye magic curiosities. Step inside the
camera obscura to see the magic of
moving pictures in full and glorious
colour. View the whole panorama of
the gardens and control the actions
of your fellow visitors. Look into the
world of the peep, peer through the
Stanhope viewer, experience the
beauties of the spinning and
pedestal kaleidoscopes and much,
much more. Find out what a
thaumatrope is and then make your
own as a free souvenir of your visit.
Access via Rochester Cathedral
12.30pm and 7.30pm,
Saturday and Sunday
Charles Dickens –
Hero or Zero
An original play by Alis Hawkins
Rochester Castle Gardens
Alfie Smith’s
Traditional Fun-Fair
A selection of traditional fairground
rides for all the family.
Rochester Castle Moat
Saturday and Sunday
Tea tent and
charity stalls
Hosted by Gillingham Lions Club.
Serving drinks and light snacks,
raising money for local charities.
Guildhall Museum
Enter the Dickens Discovery Room
and watch a short film about the
great man and Rochester. Enjoy the
19th century prison hulks experience
or view Victorian toys, ornaments,
furniture and costumes on display.
Get a bird’s eye view of Rochester,
with the Rochester Riverside Eye and
explore the exhibition A World Made
Real – Dickens and Victorian Life.
Craft fair
A traditional craft fair with stalls
selling all types of wares: Knitted
children's clothes, jewellery, china,
preserves and home-made fudge.
The emphasis is on the hand crafted
and individuality, set within an old
time fair environment.
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Children’s
amusements
Traditional
fairground
fun for
children of
all ages.
Charles Dickens: Great man of 19th
century literature; social reformer,
outstanding example of the Victorian
family man – in short, a national
treasure. However, national treasures
have private lives and in Dickens’
case, he made sure it stayed private.
So, imagine what would happen if
Charles Dickens were to be interviewed
before a live studio audience and if
his family and friends were there to
paint a picture of the real man. Be a
part of the audience; listen to those
who knew Dickens best and uncover
the best and worst of the author. At
the end you can cast your vote, was
Charles Dickens hero or zero? Please
bring picnic blankets to sit on.
Eastgate House Gardens
10.30am, 12noon and 4.20pm,
Saturday and Sunday
Dicken: About
We are obsessed with his writing but
just who was Charles Dickens the man:
A writer; a traveller; a rockstar; a
superhero? What was it like to be
Charles Dickens, father of 10,
grandfather to millions (probably)?
What did he expect to see when he
visited America? Which side of the bed
did he get out of? How did he dance?
Find out the answers to all these
vitally important questions and many
more in this comedy caper exploring
the life of our greatest writer. From
the creators of the immeasurably
successful Dikipedia comes another
masterpiece of wit and stupidity.
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Throughout Rochester
High Street with
performance finale at
The Vines Bandstand
Rochester Community Hub
Guildhall Forecourt
10.20am and 3.40pm on Friday and
10.20am and 3.40pm Saturday and
Sunday
10.20am, 1.30 and 3.20pm on Friday
and 10.50am, 12.20 and 3.50pm on
Saturday and Sunday
4.20pm, Friday and Saturday
Charles Dickens and
the Night Visitors
Great Expectations:
Charles Dickens and the Night Visitors
is based on Dickens’ Italian tour
(1844-5). An amateur practitioner in
hypnosis, Dickens sets out to evict the
spectres that nightly haunt Madame
de la Rue’s bedchamber. The
consequences are dire, as seen
through the eyes of various family
members offering differing
perspectives on Dickens’ traumatic
relationship with Madame de la Rue.
With the help of willing volunteers,
Cambridge Street Players’ exuberant
physical and verbal comedy brings
the Christmas dinner scene from
Great Expectations to life, with all its
pomposity, self-importance, terror
and guilt. Suitable for all ages.
Omnibuses, Boz
and Beyond!
Rochester Pier
Play on Words Community presents a
guide to the sillier side of Victorian
life. Witness the frustrations of
travelling on a crowded omnibus, the
catastrophic capers of the accidentprone red cabs, the absurdities of the
private theatres and the farcical
world of social climbing. Performed
by members of the Brook Youth
Theatre, this is a fun-filled experience
with plenty of hilarity and just enough
scandal to delight the whole family.
Edith May
sailing barge
Rochester High Street
Throughout each day
The Rapscallions
Meet a group of like-minded
individuals who portray characters
living the down and dirty side of
Victorian life. Witness bare-knuckle
fights, try your luck at games of
chance, see beggars, the flower
seller and ladies of a not altogether
honest nature. Relish the sight of
the peelers who try to impart law
over the disorder.
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Trips depart daily at 9.45am, 11.30am,
1.15pm, 2.45pm and 4.15pm
Enjoy a flavour of life from the age
of sail, aboard this beautiful sailing
barge. Built in 1906, the Edith May is
one of the most successful racing
barges of the 20th century. Barges
were a daily sight when Dickens
was alive and he based Mr Boffin,
in Our Mutual Friend, on the famous
bargeman Henry Dodd. Trips last
one hour.
Tickets £15 adults and £12 children.
Places are limited. Reserve tickets at
www.edithmaybargecharter.co.uk/shop
or visit Rochester Pier on the day. Each
child must be accompanied by at least
one adult. Due to the nature of the
vessel, there is no disabled access.
Rochester Community Hub
1.20pm, Friday and 12noon Saturday
and Sunday
Some Versions of
Dickens
Readings by David James
Today we need to know not only the
work but the man behind the work.
Recent biographies (Ackroyd, Tomalin)
have stripped away much of the cant
about Dickens, but the personality of
this mercurial man has also sparked off
a range of new fiction, such as Daniel
Panger’s Hard Times, Dan Simmons’s
Gothic fantasy Drood and Gaynor
Arnold’s Girl in a Blue Dress.
11.10am, 2.10pm and 4.30pm on
Friday and 11.10am, 12.50pm and
4.30pm on Saturday and Sunday
Robin Dermond
Horspool
How did the untold story of Miss
Havisham – the jilted reclusive bride
in Great Expectations – come to be
written? The recently published
book The Mould of Time, by Robin
Dermond Horspool, tells Miss
Havisham’s varied and dramatic story.
Robin will be talking about the
inspiration for his book and placing it
in context with Great Expectations
and Dickens’ life and personality
at the time of its creation. In
addition to considering
why writers write and
some of the
challenges involved,
he will whet the
appetite by
beginning and ending
his talk with a reading
from his work.
The Christmas dinner scene
Visitor Information Centre
Auditorium
The User Friendly
Theatre Company
presents two musical pieces by
Clare Graydon-James.
Rachael’s Christmas – 1.30pm on
Friday and 12.20pm on Saturday and
Sunday. A musical comedy inspired by
Pickwick Papers, Featuring Anne
Graydon as Rachael Wardle.
Estella’s Legacy – 11.10am and
2.50pm on Friday and 11.10am and
2.50pm on Saturday and Sunday. A
musical sequel to Great Expectations,
featuring Anne Graydon as Estella.
Eastgate House
12.30pm, 1.40pm and 4.20pm on
Friday and 11.10am, 12.50pm and
3.50pm on Saturday and Sunday
Magic Lantern Show
Mrs Zenobia Haskin-Davies, doyenne
of the Newmarket tearooms, can
transport you to the moment the
lantern was at the zenith of its
popularity. In between performances
Mrs Zenobia Haskin-Davies will meet
members of the public.
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imagination making of it the
unforgettable setting for the
enigmatic Miss Havisham. Festival
opening times: Friday, 10am to 5pm
and Saturday 12noon to 5pm. The
charity teashop will also be open.
Extra servings of entertainment
A big thank you to local companies who are putting on entertainment at their own cost.
Dickens’ Italian adventure
In 1844 Charles Dickens and his family toured Italy. Rest your feet and enjoy great
cuisine at two of Rochester’s top Italian restaurants, while taking in the traditional
Italian music Dickens would have heard.
Simply Italian Friday – Rochester High Street. Phone 01634 408077 to book.
Mama Mia Sunday – Rochester High Street. Phone 01634 407402 to book.
9-10am, Saturday and Sunday – Rochester High Street
Breakfast at the Gordon House Hotel
Enjoy breakfast in this fine old hotel, in the centre of Rochester, accompanied by
readings from the works of Charles Dickens. Served 9–10am. No need to book.
9am, 10am, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm – Saturday and Sunday – Rochester High Street
Readings at Oliver's
Enjoy a meal in this beautifully refurbished Georgian listed building, while being
entertained by readings from the works of Charles Dickens. No need to book.
Holiday Inn, Rochester Airport
With so much to see and do at the festival, why not make a weekend of it and
stay at the Holiday Inn, where you can enjoy an old time music hall at no
additional cost. Ring 0871 423 4876 to reserve your room.
Any changes to these events are beyond the control of Medway Council
Visit Rochester’s
historic treasures
Eastgate House
and Gardens
Dickens used Eastgate House as The
Nun’s House in The Mystery of Edwin
Drood and as Westgate House
Seminary in The Pickwick Papers. In
the gardens of Eastgate House is the
Swiss Chalet from Gad’s Hill Place,
Dickens’ last home. It was in the
chalet that Dickens was writing the
final chapters of The Mystery of
Edwin Drood just before his death
on 9 June 1870. As a result of its
fragile condition the chalet may be
viewed from the outside only. A
project is currently being developed,
with the support of the lottery, to
conserve this wonderful Grade I
listed building for generations to
come. To find out more or become a
friend of Eastgate House please email
[email protected] or
follow Eastgate House on Facebook.
Rochester Castle
and gardens
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This Norman bishop’s castle is one of
the finest and best-preserved
examples of Norman architecture in
England. Set in beautiful gardens,
the ancient keep has been silent
witness to three major sieges, the
rule of 47 kings, queens or
monarchs, the rise of Rochester and
Chatham as a centre of
international military significance
and the passing of almost 1,000
years. Its strength is its simplicity
and is still a wonder to behold.
Six Poor Travellers
House
This charming Tudor almshouse is
situated in the high street, next door
to the Visitor Information Centre,
and was the inspiration for Dickens’
short story The Seven Poor
Travellers. The original travellers’
rooms are open to the public and
the house has a beautiful herb
garden. Festival opening times (each
day): 10.30am –12.30pm and 1pm –
4.30pm (closed during parades).
Rochester Cathedral
Restoration House
Restoration House is inextricably
woven into the fabric of Great
Expectations as Satis House, the
dark, foreboding home of Miss
Havisham. Its ancient and venerable
allure impressed the young Dickens
who first saw it as a boy, his
This is the second oldest cathedral
in England and has been a regular
place of pilgrimage for historians
and worshippers since Bishop Justus
founded it in 604. The present
building was started in 1080 by King
William’s architect Bishop Gundulf.
The cathedral features one of the
largest collections of medieval wall
paintings and the first real fresco to
be painted in an English cathedral
for 800 years. Audio tours will be
available from the welcome desk to
hire outside of service times.
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Your at a glance entertainment schedule
Friday, 8 June - Children’s Day
9.45am
10am – 12noon
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Edith May sailing barge river trip
Crazee Hazee’s Circus Skills and Children’s fun
and games
10.10am
The Vines
Music by Allcock and Brown
10.20 – 10.50am Rochester
Reading by David James - Charles Dickens
Community Hub
and the Night Visitors
10.20am
Guildhall Forecourt Cambridge Street Players perform the
Christmas dinner scene from Great Expectations
10.30am
Eastgate Gardens
Punch and Judy show
10.50am
The Vines Bandstand Music from Medway Towns Brass Band
11am
Eastgate House
A reading by Chatham and Rochester
Dickens Fellowship
11am
Corn Exchange,
The Costume Train dressing up workshop for
Princes Hall
children 5-11-years-old
11am
Boley Hill
Music by Allcock and Brown
11.10am
Guildhall Forecourt The Lamplighter
11.10am
Visitor Information
The User Friendly Theatre Company presents
Centre Auditorium
Estella's Legacy by Clare Graydon-James.
11.10am
Rochester
Robin Dermond Horspool tells Miss
Community Hub
Havisham’s varied and dramatic story
11.30am
Rochester Pier
Edith May sailing barge river trip
12noon
Rochester High St.
Opening Parade
12.30pm
Eastgate House
Magic Lantern Show
1.10pm
Corn Exchange
The Costume Train dressing up workshop for
Princes Hall
children 5-11-years-old
1.10pm
Guildhall Forecourt Cambridge Street Players perform the
Christmas dinner scene from Great Expectations
1.15pm
Rochester Pier
Edith May sailing barge river trip
1.20pm
Castle Gardens
Crazee Hazee’s Punch and Judy show
1.20pm
The Vines Bandstand Music from Medway Towns Brass Band
1.20pm
Rochester
David James reads versions of opinion of
Community Hub
Dickens as a person
1.30pm
Guildhall Forecourt Cambridge Street Players perform the
Christmas dinner scene from Great Expectations
1.30pm
Visitor Information
The User Friendly Theatre Company presents
Centre Auditorium
Rachel’s Christmas by Clare Graydon-James
1.40pm
Eastgate House
Magic Lantern Show
2.10pm
Rochester
Robin Dermond Horspool tells Miss
Community Hub
Havisham’s varied and dramatic story
2.15pm
Meet outside the
Walking tour of Rochester
Visitor Information Centre
2.20pm
The Vines Bandstand Music by Allcock and Brown
2.20pm
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Rochester Pier
Castle Gardens
H
Eastgate Gardens
Punch and Judy show
2.30pm
2.30pm
2.40pm
2.45pm
2.50pm
3.10pm
3.20pm
3.20pm
3.40pm
3.40pm
3.50pm
4.10pm
4.10pm
4.15pm
4.20pm
4.20pm
4.20pm
4.30pm
7.30pm
Eastgate House
A reading by Chatham and Rochester
Dickens Fellowship
Guildhall Forecourt The Lamplighter
Corn Exchange
The Costume Train dressing up workshop for
Princes Hall
children 5-11-years-old
Rochester Pier
Edith May sailing barge river trip
Visitor Information
The User Friendly Theatre Company presents
Centre, Auditorium Estella’s Legacy by Clare Graydon-James
The Vines Bandstand Music from Medway Towns Brass Band
Guildhall Forecourt Cambridge Street Players perform the
Christmas dinner scene from Great Expectations
Eastgate House
A performance by Gerald Dickens, the
great-great grandson of Charles Dickens
Boley Hill
Music from Allcock and Brown
Rochester
Reading by David James - Charles Dickens
Community Hub
and the Night Visitors
Eastgate Gardens
Punch and Judy show
Corn Exchange
The Costume Train dressing up workshop for
Princes Hall
children 5-11-years-old
Guildhall Forecourt The Lamplighter
Rochester Pier
Edith May sailing barge river trip
Castle Gardens
Crazee Hazee’s Punch and Judy show
The Vines Bandstand Play on Words Theatre Company presents
Omnibuses, Boz and Beyond!
Eastgate House
Magic Lantern Show
Rochester
Robin Dermond Horspool tells
Community Hub
Miss Havisham’s varied and dramatic story
The Queen’s Hall,
Mr Sleary’s Grand Circus Show
Corn Exchange
(See page 3)
A Dickens World Bi – Centenary Presentation
R
roductions Ltd
in association with PW Productions & Andrew McKinnon
Present
MIRIAM MARGOLYES in
DICKENS'
WOMEN
Devised by Miriam Margolyes and Sonia Fraser
Directed by Sonia Fraser - Music arranged by Michael Haslam
Saturday July 7th @ 8pm
Britannia Theatre Dickens World
Premier Reserved Seating £24 • Standard Seating £21
To book call 01634 890421 or visit www.dickensworld.co.uk
“I’ve been a great admirer of Dickens, a passionate admirer all my life - I want to
share with you my relish in his humour, variety and vitality.” - Miriam Margolyes
HUGELY ENTERTAINING - Time Out • HILARIOUS - Independent
A MAGNIFICENT ACTOR - Independent on Sunday
HIGHLY ENTERTAINING… RIVETING… A VIRTUOSO DISPLAY - The Guardian
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Saturday, 9 June - Grand Pageant Day
9.45am
10.10am
10.10am
10.20am
10.20am
10.30am
10.30am
10.50am
10.50am
11am
11am
11.10am
11.10am
11.10am
11.10am
11.30am
11.30am
11.40am
11.40am
11.50am
12noon
12noon
12.10pm
12.20pm
12.20pm
12.30pm
12.40pm
12.50pm
12.50pm
12.50pm
1pm
1.15pm
1.30pm
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Rochester Pier
Guildhall Forecourt
Blue Boar Lane area
Rochester
Community Hub
The Vines Bandstand
Boley Hill
Eastgate Gardens
Guildhall Forecourt
Edith May Thames sailing barge river trip
The Lamplighter
Music from Isle of Sheppey St. John Silver Band
Reading by David James - Charles Dickens
and the Night Visitors
The Right Royal Revels musical entertainment
Music from Kent Police Brass Band
Dizzy O’Dare’s Dicken: About
Cambridge Street Players perform the
Christmas dinner scene from Great Expectations
Castle Gardens Stage Crazee Hazee’s Punch and Judy show
City Wall Wine Bar
Music from Willgress-Whips and Grew
Stage
The Vines Bandstand Music from BAE Systems Brass Band
Rochester
Robin Dermond Horspool tells
Community Hub
Miss Havisham’s varied and dramatic story
Eastgate House
Magic Lantern Show
Visitor Information
The User Friendly Theatre Company presents
Centre, Auditorium Estella’s Legacy by Clare Graydon-James
Boley Hill
Music by Allcock and Brown
Rochester Pier
Edith May Thames sailing barge river trip
Outside Oliver’s
Bagpipe music from The Glenduart Pipe Band
Wine Bar
Blue Boar Lane area The Right Royal Revels musical entertainment
Guildhall Forecourt The Lamplighter
Boley Hill area
Music from Kent Police Brass Band
Eastgate House
A reading by the Rochester and Chatham
Dickens Fellowship
Eastgate Gardens
Dizzy O’Dare’s Dicken: About
City Wall Wine Bar
Music from Willgress – Whips and Grew
Stage
Visitor Information
The User Friendly Theatre Company presents
Centre Auditorium
Rachel’s Christmas by Clare Graydon-James
Guildhall Forecourt Cambridge Street Players perform the
Christmas dinner scene from Great Expectations
Cathedral Gardens
Charles Dickens - Hero or Zero?
The Vines Bandstand Music by BAE Systems Brass Band
Eastgate House
Magic Lantern Show
Rochester
Robin Dermond Horspool tells
Community Hub
Miss Havisham’s varied and dramatic story
Boley Hill
Music from Kent Police Band
Castle Gardens Stage Crazee Hazee’s Punch and Judy show
Rochester Pier
Edith May sailing barge river trip
Rochester High Street The Grand Pageant
2.10pm
2.15pm
2.45pm
2.50pm
3.10pm
3.10pm
3.40pm
3.50pm
3.50pm
3.50pm
4pm
4.10pm
4.15pm
4.20pm
4.20pm
4.30pm
4.30pm
4.30pm
4.40pm
7.30pm
7.30pm
City Wall Wine Bar
Music from Willgress-Whips and Grew
Stage
Meet outside the
Walking tour of Rochester
Visitor Information Centre
Rochester Pier
Edith May sailing barge river trip
Visitor Information
The User Friendly Theatre Company presents
Centre Auditorium
Estella’s Legacy by Clare Graydon-James
The Vines Bandstand Music from BAE Systems Brass Band
City Wall Wine Bar
Music from Willgress – Whips and Grew
Stage
Rochester
Reading by David James - Charles Dickens
Community Hub
and the Night Visitors
Guildhall Forecourt Cambridge Street Players perform the
Christmas dinner scene from Great Expectations
Boley Hill
The Right Royal Revels musical entertainment
Eastgate House
The Magic Lantern Show
Blue Boar Lane
Music from Isle of Sheppey
St. John Ambulance Band
Outside Oliver’s
Bagpipe music from The Glenduart Pipe Band
Wine Bar
Rochester Pier
The Edith May sailing barge river trip
Eastgate Gardens
Dizzy O’Dare’s Dicken: About
The Vines Bandstand Play on Words Theatre Company presents
Omnibuses, Boz and Beyond!
Rochester Library
Robin Dermond Horspool tells
Miss Havisham’s varied and dramatic story
Eastgate House
A reading by the Rochester and Chatham
Dickens Fellowship
Boley Hill
Music from The Kent Police Brass Band
Guildhall Forecourt The Lamplighter
The Queen’s Hall,
An Evening with Gerald Dickens
Corn Exchange
(See page 4)
Cathedral Gardens
Charles Dickens - Hero or Zero?
| Kingswear Castle paddle steamer trips
Saturday, 9 and Sunday, 10 June
2pm, 3pm and 4pm - Rochester Pier
Enjoy a 30-minute trip on Britain’s
last coal-fired paddle steamer along
the River Medway. For further
information, prices and bookings
phone 01634 827648.
15
Sunday, 10 June - Commemorative Day
9.45am
10.10am
10.20am
10.20am
10.30am
10.50am
10.50am
11am
11am
11.10am
11.10am
11.10am
11.30am
11.30am
11.40am
11.40am
12noon
12noon
12.10pm
12.20pm
12.20pm
12.30pm
12.40pm
12.50pm
12.50pm
1pm
1.15pm
1.30pm
2.10pm
2.15pm
2.45pm
2.50pm
16
Rochester Pier
Guildhall Forecourt
Rochester
Community Hub
The Vines Bandstand
Eastgate Gardens
Guildhall Forecourt
Edith May sailing barge river trip
The Lamplighter
Reading by David James - Charles Dickens
and the Night Visitors
The Right Royal Revels
Dizzy O’Dare’s Dicken: About
Cambridge Street Players perform the
Christmas dinner scene from Great Expectations
Castle Gardens Stage Crazee Hazee’s Punch and Judy show
City Wall Wine Bar
Music from Skinners Rats
Stage
The Vines Bandstand Music from BAE Systems Brass Band
Rochester
Robin Dermond Horspool tells Miss
Community Hub
Havisham’s varied and dramatic story
Eastgate House
Magic Lantern Show
Visitor Information
The User Friendly Theatre Company presents
Centre, Auditorium Estella’s Legacy by Clare Graydon-James
Rochester Pier
Edith May sailing barge river trip
Outside Oliver’s
Bagpipe music from The Glenduart Pipe Band
Wine Bar
Blue Boar Lane area The Right Royal Revels
Guildhall Forecourt The Lamplighter
Eastgate House
A reading by the Rochester and Chatham
Dickens Fellowship
Eastgate Gardens
Dizzy O’Dare’s Dicken: About
City Wall Wine Bar
Music from Skinners Rats
Stage
Visitor Information
The User Friendly Theatre Company presents
Centre Auditorium
Rachel’s Christmas by Clare Graydon-James
Guildhall Forecourt Cambridge Street Players perform the
Christmas dinner scene from Great Expectations
Cathedral Gardens
Charles Dickens - Hero or Zero?
The Vines Bandstand Music by BAE Systems Brass Band
Eastgate House
Magic Lantern Show
Rochester
Robin Dermond Horspool tells
Community Hub
Miss Havisham’s varied and dramatic story
Castle Gardens Stage Crazee Hazee’s Punch and Judy show
Rochester Pier
Edith May sailing barge river trip
Rochester High Street Grand Parade
City Wall Wine Bar
Music from Skinners Rats
Stage
Meet outside the
Walking tour of Rochester
Visitor Information Centre
Rochester Pier
Edith May sailing barge river trip
Visitor Information
The User Friendly Theatre Company presents
Centre Auditorium
Estella’s Legacy by Clare Graydon-James
3.00pm
3.10pm
3.20pm
3.40pm
3.50pm
3.50pm
3.50pm
4.10pm
4.15pm
4.20pm
4.30pm
4.30pm
4.40pm
7.30pm
Eastgate House
A performance by Gerald Dickens, the greatgreat grandson of Charles Dickens
The Vines Bandstand Music from BAE Systems Brass Band
City Wall Wine Bar
Music from Skinners Rats
Stage
Rochester
Reading by David James – Charles Dickens and
Community Hub
the Night Visitors
Guildhall Forecourt Cambridge Street Players perform the
Christmas dinner scene from Great Expectations
Boley Hill
The Right Royal Revels
Eastgate House
The Magic Lantern Show
Outside Oliver’s
Bagpipe music from The Glenduart Pipe Band
Wine Bar
Rochester Pier
The Edith May sailing barge river trip
Eastgate Gardens
Dizzy O’Dare’s Dicken: About
Rochester
Robin Dermond Horspool tells
Community Hub
Miss Havisham’s varied and dramatic story
Eastgate House
A reading by the Rochester and Chatham
Dickens Fellowship
Guildhall Forecourt The Lamplighter
Cathedral Gardens
Charles Dickens - Hero or Zero?
Acknowledgements
Medway Council acknowledges support from: • Arriva • City of Rochester Society • Confucious
Chinese restaurant • Dickens World, Chatham • Shirley Goodhew and Angela Maybourne •
Kent Police • Gillingham Lions • Medway Visitor Information Centre Staff • Mirror Group
Newspapers • Rochester Cathedral • Rochester City Centre Forum • Rochester and Chatham
Dickens Fellowship • Slinders Florist • St John Ambulance (Kent) • Thelma Grove
Festival performers
Alan Whippy, Scrooge
Allcock & Brown
BAE Systems Brass Band
Cambridge Street Players
Colin Greenslade, Fagin
Cyril Baldwin, Samuel Pickwick
Dance Alley
David James
Dizzy O’ Dare
Gerald Dickens
Glenduart Pipe Band
Gwen Whippy, Sarah Gamp
Isle of Sheppey St. John’s Ambulance Band
Janet Peters, Mrs Pocket
Juliette Harcourt, Mrs Zenobia Haskin–Davies
Kay Rouse
Keith Beckford, Lamplighter
Kent Police Band
Medway Towns Brass Band
Phil Haze, Crazee Hazee
Play on Words Theatre Company
Right Royal Revellers
Robert Styles, Punch ‘n’ Judy
Robin Horspool
Rochester and Chatham Dickens Fellowship
Rochester Pickwick Club
Sandi Digby
Seven Dials Dukes Rapscallions
Shirley Goodhew
Three Towns Theatre Company
The Costume Train
The User Friendly Theatre Company
17
3
4
Toilets
First Aid point
Car parking
Disabled parking
Coach parking
Park and ride
drop-off/pick-up
point
Coach drop-off/pick-up point
To London,
Civic Centre,
Strood
Strood Station
2
8
5
9
10
7
1
11
ret’s
arga
St M
6
rch
Chu
| Entertainment areas
| Baby changing and feeding
| Travel information
10am to 5pm
Rochester Castle Gardens
Medway National Childbirth Trust (NCT)
will provide nappy changing and feeding
facilities throughout the festival.
Information on local groups, classes and
general advice in Medway can be
obtained from the NCT marquee.
Train
Rochester and Strood stations are only a
five-minute walk from Rochester High
Street and have excellent links between
London and the coast. For more
information visit: www.setrains.co.uk
1 Rochester Pier
2 Rochester Castle Gardens
3 Guildhall Museum
4 The Corn Exchange
5 Boley Hill Village/Castle Moat
6 The Vines
7 City Wall performance area
8 Blue Boar Lane
9 Eastgate House and Gardens
10 Rochester Community Hub
11 Oliver’s Wine Bar
18
Park and ride
Arriva will operate a park and ride
service from The Historic Dockyard,
Chatham. Follow the yellow
directional signs.
Car and coach parking
Limited car parking is available near the
centre of Rochester. Public car parks are
indicated on the festival map. Car
parking is also available at the former
Civic Centre site in Strood, throughout
the festival. Coaches may use the dropoff and pick-up point, also shown on
the map.
This information can be made
available in other formats and
languages, phone 01634 333333
19
Fuse Festival
Fri, 15 to
Sun, 17 June
Under Seige
Sun, 22 July
Castle Concerts
Wed, 18 July Jools Holland
Thu, 19 July Steps
Fri, 20 July
Billy Ocean and
Alexander O'Neal
Sat, 21 July
Proms
Medway hosts more than 28
days of free festivals and events each year
G7307 Designed by Medway Council’s Communications Team.
For more information visit
www.celebratemedway2012.co.uk