He wanted to be an actor, his novels are full of theatre folk, and he performed readings of his books to rapt audiences. Did you know that Charles Dickens was obsessed with drama?Charles Dickens is 200 years old this week (did you notice?). His reputation as a novelist is, of course, immense – and endlessly dissected at the moment. What fewer people know about is Dickens's obsession with drama. He was an avid theatregoer, joined the Garrick Club at the age of 25 and had many theatrical friends, including the actor William Macready to whom he dedicated Nicholas Nickleby. He visited circuses and melodrama houses; his periodical writings covered vents and "grimacers", waxworks, freak shows, actors, gaslight fairies and clowns. ...