Simon Callow - A Festival Dickens

From the second Simon Callow parts the curtains his presence fills the room. He's packed out The Assembly's Music Hall, a 400-capacity venue on George Street. A glance across the audience shows a lot of grey hair – there aren't that many lovers of Charles Dickens in the iPod generation. Callow's voice carries to the back of the hall without even the slightest strain. His body moves with simple ease. He doesn't drop a single syllable.

There are two parts to this performance: two short stories that only hardcore Dickens fans will have heard before, plus a 15 minute intermission. The first is an amusing, biting satire on the hollowness of high society, distinctly Victorian but filled with modern resonance. Callow's delivery is strong, even captivating – but it's in the second part that he really shines.

Taking us through the tale of Doctor Marigold, Callow nails the bittersweet essence of Dickensian melodrama, producing a sensitive, moving and amusing portrait of the character. This is true method acting. Deceptive in his apparent vulnerability, Callow inhabits the characters completely – his transformation between the two is as profound as it is convincing.

The first half is not as strong as the second, but Callow's mesmerizing presence carries it nonetheless. If you've never enjoyed Dickens you'll be swept up in this loving restoration. If you're a Dickens fan, you should have already booked a ticket and a day off work. A rare treat.