UNVERSED …
Thursday 28th March Join us for a critically-acclaimed one-woman whirlwind performance of Shakespeare's greatest hits, staged in the atmospheric historic interiors of one of the greatest Shakesperean editors, Samuel Johnson. Unversed … An eager young actor in the city of London has got her hands on a discarded copy of Shakespeare’s first folio. Newly printed and the hottest publication in town, all the plays exist together for the very first time. There's only one problem: the parts are all too out of reach for women to play on the public stage. Come along and be part of the rehearsal as Antonia gives herself permission to speak the verse and explore the profession of being a woman - both onstage and off. Unversed was commissioned and created for the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio for Keats House in Hampstead where it premiered to great reviews. Following this performance at Dr Johnson's House, it will go on tour to John Clare Cottage, Peterborough, The Painted Room in Oxford, The Willow Globe in Wales and will go to Stratford in 2025. Please book your tickets here Praise for ‘Unversed’ … “Marvellous concept with incredible characters - a treat for any Shakespeare fan." “Just been to Unversed: what a brilliant, passionate, intimate and thoughtful exploration of Shakespeare’s well versed ladies. From Desdemona to Lady Macbeth, I thought Beckis was utterly captivating." " Brilliant! I loved every minute of it! What a joy it was tonight - to hear Shakespeare acted so truthfully and with such beautiful expression.” "Superb acting and wonderfully interactive with the audience." "An outstanding performance from an outstanding actor."
We are delighted to announce the launch of a year of Lunchtime Lectures for 2024!
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The Fleet Street Quarter BID. The talks are free to attend and will be held on the last Thursday of each month throughout 2024. The subject of the talk will range from Johnson and dictionaries and the 18th century, to urban planning and eco matters, such as urban pollution throughout history and what each age has done to combat it. Guest speakers will also feature as part of this exciting new programme. The lectures will run from 12:45 - 13:45 and lunch will be provided to enjoy during the talk - when booking please highlight any dietary requirements (at least 48 hours in advance of the event), and please also arrive at 12:45 sharp or earlier. You will also have the opportunity to explore the House after the talk. Please note that tickets are limited and popular, and must be booked in advance. Sign up to our newsletter to receive advance notice and information on how to book. We look forward to welcoming you on the day!
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Meanwhile, our book club, Dr Johnson's House Reading Circle, will continue to meet regularly throughout 2024-25, and you'd be very welcome to join us. Do check back on the page for details.
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| DR JOHNSON WALKS 2023We are also running our City Guide led Dr Johnson's Walks programme so why not take a stroll back in time and visit Johnson's old haunts with us? Follow in Johnson's footsteps and explore the courts and alleys off Fleet Street with an experienced City Guide.
Groups may also book walks at alternative times, contact us via the website contact form at the bottom of each page to arrange. Explore the 18th - century literary London of the writer, critic and lexicographer, Dr. Samuel Johnson. Walk down Fleet St, stroll through its alleys and byways and find out how Dr Johnson and his contemporaries made their careers in the burgeoning world of printing and publishing. £12.00 Tickets are available via Eventbrite. Booking is not essential, however. Please bring cash for tickets not purchased in advance. We meet outside the house five minutes before the walk commences Dates for the walks this year are as follows: Saturday 3 FebruaryFriday 16 February
This is a joint venture between Dr Johnson's House and the City Guides www.cityoflondontouristguides.com
- Past Events at Dr Johnson's HouseTea Party to celebrate Dr Samuel Johnson's BirthdayJoin us to mark Johnson's 224th birthday here at Dr Johnson's House!
We are delighted to collaborate with The Georgian Dining Academy to invite you to a birthday celebration for the great wordsmith Dr Samuel Johnson at his beautiful home in Gough Square. This is an opportunity to have a cup of tea (or several!) with cakes, savouries, and fancies where Dr Johnson entertained his guests. You will have the opportunity to visit the whole house and discover all its delights and secrets, whilst imbibing in the invigorating brew Johnson so highly valued. You can also visit the current exhibition ‘Gratifications of the Palate’: Cuisine in the Age of Samuel Johnson . You will be entertained by short talks about previous guests and in habitants and learn more about Johnson’s peculiar tea drinking habits! Please note that pots of tea, cakes and savouries will be served as a buffet. You are encouraged (but not obliged) to wear Georgian attire for the afternoon.
Charles Burney, Frances Burney and Reciprocal SilencingA talk by Prof. Peter SaborThursday 3rd March 2022 7pm (doors open at 6.30) Join us to discover the tense relationship between father and daughter, and how each, in turn, silenced the other in an unusual case of reciprocal silencing.The initial silencer was the celebrated music historian and friend of Dr Johnson, Dr Charles Burney (1726-1814), father of the novelist, journal-writer and dramatist Frances Burney (1752-1840). After the extraordinary success of her first novel, Evelina, in 1778, her fame soon rivalled and then eclipsed his. To his credit, he encouraged her to continue writing fiction. Writing for the theatre, however, was another matter; he dreaded the idea of his daughter’s becoming a public figure and succeeded in silencing her dramatic voice. After Dr Burney’s death, the tables were turned. With his vast archive in her possession, Frances could ensure that his correspondence would not be published. As for Dr Burney’s memoirs, Frances destroyed the manuscript almost in its entirety. But what impelled Dr Burney to silence his daughter? What were her reasons for suppressing the material in her care? Discovery why with Prof. Sabor. Professor Sabor is Canada Research Chair and Professor of English at McGill University, where he is also Director of the Burney Centre. Recent publications include Samuel Richardson in Context, co-edited with Betty Schellenberg (CUP, 2017) and The Cambridge Companion to Emma (CUP, 2015). He is general editor of The Court Journals and Letters of Frances Burney (OUP, 6 vols, 2011-19) and Additional Journals and Letters of Frances Burney (OUP, 2 vols, 2015-18), as well as co-general editor of The Cambridge Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Samuel Richardson (24 vols, in progress). He is general editor of The Letters of Dr. Charles Burney (OUP, 6 vols in progress). His website Reading with Austen is a digital recreation of the library used by Jane Austen at Godmersham Park: www.readingwithausten.com.
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DR JOHNSON WALKSFollow in Johnson's footsteps and explore the courts and alleys off Fleet Street with an experienced City Guide.
Groups may also book walks at alternative times. For any enquiries please contact us on drjohnsonwalks@gmail.com Explore the 18th - century literary London of the writer, critic and lexicographer, Dr. Samuel Johnson. Walk down Fleet St, stroll through its alleys and byways and find out how Dr Johnson and his contemporaries made their careers in the burgeoning world of printing and publishing. £10.00 Tickets are available via Eventbrite. Booking is not essential, however. Please bring cash for tickets not purchased in advance. We meet outside the house five minutes before the walk commences 18th Feb Book here5th March Book here 18th March Book here 2nd April Book here 15th April Book here 7th May Book here 20th May Book here 4th June Book here 17th June Book here This is a joint venture between Dr Johnson's House and the City Guides.
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Events information
Most events sell out and tickets must be bought in advance. Card payments are processed by PayPal. We regret that we are unable to take card payments over the phone.
Customers wishing to pay by cheque should send a cheque payable to 'Dr Johnson's House Trust Ltd' to Dr Johnson's House, 17 Gough Square, London, EC4A 3DE. Please include your contact details. We will let you know when your cheque arrives.
Please note the House contains unavoidable steps. For more information about access, please visit our Facilities page.