Lesley Smith is admired for her representations of strong and famous women. She does meticulous research and has wonderful, accurate costumes for women like Elizabeth l, Mary Queen of Scots, Boudicca, Ann Boleyn, Nell Gwynn and Margaret Thatcher.

The George Eliot Fellowship asked her before the bicentenary in 2019 if she would do George Eliot. Lesley started to research Eliot’s life and immersed herself in the novels and letters and the world premiere of her George Eliot, billed as ‘Meet the Woman’ took place in the Abbey Theatre in March 2019 before a capacity audience.

Lesley Smith has agreed to do another performance for us as part of the Middlemarch Festival and we are thrilled to welcome her back. Her George Eliot is now part of Lesley’s repertoire and we are thrilled to welcome her back to the theatre where it was first performed.

Tickets for this event are available online from TicketSource

The George Eliot fellowship AGM will take place on Saturday 25 March at 2pm and will consist of the following items:

1. Welcome and apologies
2. Minutes of the 2022 AGM
3. Chairman's report 2022
4. Treasurer's report 2022
5. Election of trustees
6. Any other business

The full programme for the day is still being finalised. When it is ready we will publish it and open registration.

The full programme for the day is still being finalised. When it is ready we will publish it and open registration.

Guest of honour - Andrew Copson

Andrew was born in Nuneaton and is the Chief Executive of Humanists UK and President of Humanists International and has kindly agreed to be our guest of honour and lay a wreath on behalf of the Fellowship.

Traditionally, about 20 groups are invited to lay a wreath in honour of George Eliot. Afterwards we hope to relocate to the Museum Tea Rooms for tea, coffee and cakes.