$116 Million English Theme Park, Dickens World, to Open on May 25, 2007

Yes, a four-acre indoor theme park celebrating the fiction of Victorian author Charles Dickens is set to open to the public at the end of May. And it's creating much controversy, particularly in the world of letters. Critics condemn the project as "Disney-fying England's great 19th century literary giant, his masterpieces including "David Copperfield", "Oliver Twist", "A Christmas Carol", "Great Expectations", and "A Tale of Two Cities."

Dickens World ride attractions will include the Haunted House of Ebenezer Scrooge, Fagin's Den of Thieves, and The Great Expectations-themed boat ride based on the escape of Magwitch the convict. The $116 million project was the dream of theme park designer Gerry O'Sullivan-Beare in cooperation with the Dickens Fellowship. Former Fellowship joint secretary Thelma Grove acted as consultant on the theme park.

When asked about the negative criticism leveled at Dickens World, park manager Ross Hutchins stated, "If we were Disney-fying Dickens, we wouldn't be talking to people like the Dickens Fellowship to ensure the correct historical facts."

Dickens World is located in the port town of Chatham Maritime near Medway, where Dickens spent a portion of his childhood. Paradoxically, the park has been constructed inside a huge modern aluminum airplane hangar. Step inside and you'll see a recreation of 19th century archways, cobblestone streets, and sewer; and you'll be greeted by an assortment of actors portraying Dickens characters as well as a magnificent display of animatronic characters.

Other features in the park will be a "4-D high definition show", a 19th century music hall performance, and a "Dickensian Shopping Mall" that will include "themed restaurants, bars, and a multiplex cinema."

Promoters hope that Dickens World will bring in 300,000 visitors a year.

Sadly, O'Sullivan-Beare passed away before his dream was realized.

SOURCES:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dickens_World

http://www.dickensworld.co.uk/

"Great expectations?", Finlo Rohrer, BBC News, URL: (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6559197.stm)

"Great expectations for Dickens theme park", Paul Majendie, Yahoo news, URL: (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070412/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_arts_dickens)