TO CELEBRATE the launch of the Dickens Legacy at the gala evening at London’s Vaudeville Theatre, Great Expectations will be screened live via satellite to more than 150 cinemas across the UK and Ireland, including the Apollo Carmarthen tomorrow.

The live screening will start at 6.45pm.

Although it is Dickens’ most popular novel (Guardian Poll 2012, Publishers Weekly) and has previously had many incarnations, including as a film, a television drama and even a stage musical, this will be the first time there has been a production of Great Expectations as a full-scale stage play in either the West End or on Broadway.

The West End Première of Great Expectations will star Jack Ellis as Jaggers, Chris Ellison as Magwitch and Paula Wilcox as Miss Havisham. The cast of 13 also includes Paul Nivison as adult Pip, Grace Rowe as Estella and Taylor Jay-Davies as young Pip.

The Dickens Legacy has been launched alongside the stage show to receive a royalty share of box office.

Set up by the producer with Lucinda Dickens Hawksley (great, great, great granddaughter of Charles Dickens), it will distribute funds to concerns dealing with issues Dickens was passionate about, for example, prison reform, adoption, literacy etc.

The Dickens Legacy is also supporting Tuesday evening’s performances when, for every full price adult ticket a child under 16 goes free (subject to availability).