It is the role of Charles Dickens that makes fond memories of the theatre for Simon Callow.

The 57-year-old, who is an accomplished actor, stage director and playwright, has starred in Four Weddings and a Funeral and is well-known for his portrayal of Charles Dickens on both stage and screen, even making an appearence as the writer in an episode of Dr Who.

He said: "I've always loved the Theatre Royal Brighton, as audience and actor, for its atmosphere, for its sight-lines, for its acoustics and, needless to say, because it is in Brighton.

"I've directed there, with great satisfaction, Shades, a play by Sharman Macdonald starring Pauline Collins, amongst other things, and acted there more often than I can remember.

"My particular joy was doing The Mystery Of Charles Dickens just before going to the West End with it, though the opening night was not too promising.

"The show was part of the Brighton Festival, and despite golden days of sunshine before the week I appeared, and after it, the weather turned suddenly vile and wintery as I prepared for my first performance.

"The rain started slowly but heavily, great thumping drops, and then, urged on by the wind, built up to tropical levels. By the beginning of the second half, when Dickens's life started to take a somewhat bleak turn, the weather, out of sympathy, howled and wailed intemperately, beating up a fine tattoo on the roof.

"The Death of Nancy from Oliver Twist was always rather taxing, emotionally and vocally, but now, as the storm started its final great crescendo, I was hard pressed to be heard at all. The audience must just have seen this short bearded chap and a black velvet suit railing away inaudibly and wondered what the hell it was all about. As it happened, I had a friend in, and she came back stage.

"'It was wonderful,' she said, 'like King Lear.' "'But could you hear anything?' "'Nothing,' she replied, 'but we had no difficulty in guessing what it was all about.' "In retrospect, if I'd been quicker, I would have switched to the great scene from David Copperfield when Steerforth is drowned by the angry sea. Very Brighton. Perhaps if I ever bring the show back...

"Whether it's The Mystery Of Charles Dickens or something else, I can't wait to return. The Theatre Royal Brighton is one of the last proper theatres still extant, with a stage where you can have a proper relationship with a proper audience. Long, long may it flourish."

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