“This is the diary of me, Charles Pooter. Social ladder climber. Technically middle-class, according to recently completed internet survey.”

Mr Pooter is coming to Croydon, the central character is another production at the Spread Eagle Theatre, being performed on February 20, 21 and 22. Tickets are £10 each.

A classic of English literature, The Diary of a Nobody presents an accurate and amusing record of the manners, customs and experiences of lower-middle-class suburban Londoners of the late 19th century, and the FRED theatre company from the Midlands has produced this fast-paced adaptation which brings Mr Charles Pooter, his family and friends into the 21st century where we discover the familiar stories revisited in a contemporary setting.

Although it seems everything is different, nothing really changes.

The Diary of a Nobody is an English comic novel written by the brothers George and Weedon Grossmith. It originated as an intermittent serial in Punch in 1888 and first appeared in book form a few years later. This theatre adaptation is by FRED’s writer in residence, Jonathan ap Emrys.

• Tickets for The Diary of a Nobody at the Spread Eagle can be booked here
• Babylon gets a staging at Croydon’s pub theatre

Coming to Croydon

• STDLCC Screening: Museum Hours, Jan 13
• “Croydon Communities Consortium” meeting, Jan 14
• Norwood Society talk, Upper Norwood Library, Jan 16
• Croydon Ramblers, Chelsham walk, Jan 19
• STDLCC Screening: The East, Jan 20
• STDLCC Screening: Winter Nomads, Jan 27
• Coulsdon and Purley Debating Society, Feb 3
• Babylon at the Spread Eagle Theatre, Feb 4-6
• Steve Knightly at Stanley Halls: Feb 5
• Purley Swimathon: Feb 8 and 13
• Norwood Society talk, Upper Norwood Library, Feb 20
• Coulsdon and Purley Debating Society, Mar 3
• Norwood Society talk, Upper Norwood Library, Mar 20

• If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, a residents’ or business association or local event, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com