Unveiling a Blue Plaque: Dickens' Birmingham Legacy
The Birmingham Town Hall is about to get a special tribute. A blue plaque, marking the historic moment when Charles Dickens himself delivered his first-ever public reading of 'A Christmas Carol', will be unveiled soon. This significant event took place in December 1853, and it's believed that the town hall was one of Dickens' favorite venues.
The actor Anton Lesser, a familiar face from 'Wolf Hall', 'Endeavour', and 'Game of Thrones', will be the one to unveil the plaque. Lesser shared an intriguing insight into Dickens' generosity: 'He wanted to make the performance accessible to those who couldn't afford tickets, so he reduced the price and cleared out all the seats, ensuring that as many people as possible could attend. It was a great success, and it marked the beginning of Dickens' touring career, which continued until his death.'
The unveiling of the plaque coincides with a special evening performance of 'A Christmas Carol' featuring Lesser and the Orchestra of the Swan. This unique event will interweave words and music to bring Dickens' famous tale to life. The blue plaque is a project of the Birmingham Civic Society, part of the wider Amplify Town Hall initiative, which has received funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project aims to celebrate the rich history of Birmingham's oldest events venue, as stated by the venue itself.
Nicola Gauld, co-chair of the civic society's heritage committee, expressed the committee's enthusiasm for the project: 'The Heritage Committee was captivated by this story and strongly believes that it represents a significant moment in Birmingham's history, one that deserves to be commemorated and celebrated.'
For those interested in attending the unveiling and the special performance, tickets are available on the B:Music website (https://bmusic.co.uk/book/instance/2091736). Don't miss out on this chance to celebrate Dickens' legacy in Birmingham!
