WE’VE all been through hard times over the last 18 months, but literary fans have good reason for great expectations about a theatrical performance coming to Llandrindod Wells this week.

Gerald Dickens – the great, great grandson of Charles Dickens – performs his take of ‘Great Expectations’ at The Albert Hall this Friday, August 27, as part of this year’s Victorian Festival.

Gerald, 57, is an English actor and performer best known for his one-man shows based on the novels of his great, great-grandfather – considered one of the world’s greatest ever authors and who created some of literature’s best-known fictional characters.

Gerald has received acclaim for his performances, which includes one-man theatrical adaptations of Great Expectations, Nicholas Nickleby, A Tale of Two Cities and A Christmas Carol.

‘Great Expectations’ follows the childhood and young adult years of Pip, a blacksmith's apprentice in a country village. He suddenly comes into a large fortune (his great expectations) from a mysterious benefactor and moves to London where he enters high society. He thinks he knows where the money has come from but he turns out to be sadly mistaken. The story also follows Pip's dealings with Estella, a young woman he adores but who cannot return his love.

“In 1993, I created my first one-man show, a theatrical performance of A Christmas Carol, inspired by Charles Dickens' own energetic readings of the 1860s,” said Gerald.

“A fascination with the life and works of Charles led me to write and direct further one-man shows including Mr Dickens is Coming, Nicholas Nickleby and Sketches by Boz. I regularly perform in major theatres and arts centres as well as at hotels and stately homes.

“I have appeared at several arts and literary festivals in the UK and have been entertaining cruise ship passengers worldwide since 2007.”

‘Great Expectations’ comes to the Albert Hall Theatre this Friday. Doors open at 7pm, with the performance beginning at 7.30pm. Tickets are £15 and available from the Victorian Festival website at http://victorian-festival.co.uk. Alternatively, visit the Albert Hall’s Facebook page or website.