Syllabus of Meetings 2022

Members of the Melbourne Dickens Fellowship hold regular meetings at The Faichney Room

Toorak Uniting Church, 603 Toorak Rd, Toorak, Victoria starting 7:30pm for 7:45pm

We welcome visitors. Please just come along & announce yourself. (Map)

If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please CONTACT US

Upcoming presentations and speakers are also listed on the home page.

 

Date

Event / Presentation

Friday February 4th

The Dickens 210th Birthday Commemoration Dinner: Guest Speaker: Michael Challinger, Barrister and Writer.

6:30pm for 7:00pm, University House, University of Melbourne

Wednesday March 16th

Introduction to Bleak House: Elisabeth Neales

In this introduction to Bleak House, Elisabeth Neales will outline the plot and introduce the main characters. Members of the Fellowship will read out sections to remind those who have not read the novel recently and introduce it to those who have never read it.

Wednesday April 20th

Of Waifs, an Ironmaster, and a Changing England: Jennifer Johnstone

In this session we will be concentrating on a selection of passages from Bleak House, specifically examining the
power and mastery of Dickens’s language as he brings the world of the novel and its characters to life.

Wednesday May 18th

The Houses of Bleak House: Alan Dilnot

TBC

Wednesday June 15th

Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo and the Sea: Peter Spriggins

TBC

Wednesday July 20th

The President’s Night: Gilbert and Dickens (with apologies to Sullivan) – Updated and Presented Live: Frances Hutson

TBC

Wednesday August 17th

(1) Tavistock House: the Smallest Theatre in the World: Veronica Delafosse

(2) Nominations for Office Bearers and Committee

Home of “The Smallest Theatre in the World” in which The Frozen Deep was first staged and where Bleak House was written. Dickens lived here 1851-1860.

Wednesday September 21st

(1) Annual General Meeting and Elections

(2) Great TV, but is it Bleak House?: Terry Hayes

TBC

Wednesday October 19th

(1) Celebrating 40th Anniversary of our Newsletter: Andrew Gemmell, current editor interviewing Alan Dilnot, founding/former editor

(2) Doctors: with reference to Chaucer, Shakespeare and Dickens: Alan Dilnot

TBC

Wednesday November 16th

Smallpox: Deborah Rhodes

TBC

Wednesday December 14th

Christmas Party (for Members)

Traditional Readings, Carol Singing, and Supper.