Spirit

Experience Spirit, a new solo show written and performed by Beckis Cooper, premiering on Halloween in the very room where Charles Dickens died. Ellen 'Nelly' Ternan comes to Gad's Hill to attempt one final communication with the great man himself. Beset by grief, Nelly is determined to conjure Dickens' spirit but the forces she unleashes are far more powerful and unsettling than she could ever have imagined.

Spend an unforgettable time with Nelly as she channels some of Dickens' fiercest and most mysterious female characters through body, mind and spirit. This electrifying new solo performance explores mesmerism and its terrifying ability to summon the past, from the creator of the 'phenomenal' Unversed... and the 'hilarious' From Chawton (2024-6).

The performance takes place on Saturday 31 October 2026 in Dickens's Dining Room at Gad's Hill Place, Higham. There are two performances: matinee, doors at 1pm for a 2pm start, and evening, doors at 6.30pm for a 7.30pm start. Tickets are £45 each and include complimentary refreshments plus an opportunity to see the ground floor of Dickens's final home. All profits from this performance will be donated to the Gad's Hill Trust. Please note the show is suitable for ages 16 and over and ticket availability is limited due to the intimate size of the venue.

Accessibility information: there are steps to the front and rear of the house and steps to the bathroom facilities, and regrettably there is no wheelchair access. Parking is available in the Gad's Hill School car park with a short walk to the house. Learn more about the artist at www.beckiscooper.com.