Invitation

Printed invitation card to an amateur performance by Charles Dickens company of actors at Frances Kelly's Theatre at 73 Dean Street, Soho, on 20 September 1845. Frances Kelly, a retired actress loaned her theatre to small troupes for rehearsals and amateur performances. The invitation was sent to Mr Harwood's company on behalf of the hosts; Mr G A A Beckett, Dudley Costello, Charles Dickens and brothers, Mr Evans, Mr Forster, Mr D Jerrold, Mr Leech, Mr Leigh, Mark Lemon, Mr Mayhew, Mr Stanfield, Frank Stone and Mr T J Thompson. Printed in green and gold with a decorative border the invitation refers to the first performance of Ben Johnson's play Every man in his Humour by Charles Dickens company that included a number of his friends and family including Frank Stone, the artist, his brothers Fred and Augustus and from Punch magazine the editor Mark Lemon, John Lech and Douglas Jerrold.

On the night of the performance, 20 September 1845, Dean Street was crowded with carriages, and crowds and an extra force of police had to guard the doors of the theatre. Tennyson, the Duke of Devonshire and Carlyle were among the audience although Carlyle was unimpressed and referred to Dickens as 'poor little Dickens, all painted in black and red, and affecting the voice of a man of six feet'.

Passionate about the theatre Charles Dickens was involved in amateur theatricals throughout his life as stage-manager, director, playwright and performer.