As I walk into the grand house I am glad to get away from the bustling streets that had been full of people in costume as I came from the station. It seems that people really do go all out for the Dickens Festival, which is good as otherwise I would have stuck out like a sore thumb walking around dressed as an inspection from the Victorian era.
Even worse is the face that the festival is slap bang in the throws of the hottest summer in years and so all this outfit leaves me hot and streaming as I enter. It takes me a minute to compose myself and as I do I hear a mass of noise coming from the room to the left. I guess it's time to face the music and meet the other Dickens guests, I hope they've gone to as much effort on the outfits as I have or I am going to look a total fool!
Luckily, I am not disappointed and everyone really has gone to town. A table is laid out in the middle of a grand room, every wall panelled with expensive looking wood. Candles flicker in the middle of the table looking lovely and even more magical as the twilight sets in. It seems Mrs Havisham was set on her instruction of remaining in character and place names on the table only outline a Dickensian name. As I start to meet the guests they remain in the character I assume they received with their own invites. I mimic their acting as I talk and start to work out who's who.
My knowledge about the Character and thoughts on the guest playing them -