Nigel Gearing: 3 books

Dickens in America is an imaginary lecture given by Charles Dickens on his travels to America in the nineteenth century. Drawn from his many letters, speeches and his book American Notes, this play – first produced at Bristol Old Vic in 1998 – is a gripping journey into Dickens’ life and work.

In Michel Azama’s extraordinary play, the characters are caught in the crossfire, tumbling through the checkpoint between life and death. First performed in English at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.

Hollywood. Songwriter Ernie Case has an Oscar on the shelf, an aspiring actress in his bed, and a screenplay getting the green-light from Studio. Life, it seems, is looking up. Only two hurdles lie ahead: he needs the mysterious Diva as his leading lady and he needs to keep well clear of Senator...