LETTERS LIVE, a series of curated, live events that celebrate the enduring power of literary correspondence, comes to London next week for a five-night season featuring some of the world’s best stage, screen, music, art and literary talent.
Benedict Cumberbatch and Louise Brealey will take to the stage each evening to read letters penned by some of the world’s greatest luminaries alongside a diverse array of world class performers including Olivia Colman, Joanne Froggatt, Ashley Walters, Toby Jones, Sophie Okonedo, Simon Callow, Tom Sturridge, Sally Hawkins, Caitlin Moran, Tom Odell, Dominic West and Juliet Stevenson with many surprise guests appearing on the night!
From Virginia Woolf’s heart-breaking suicide letter to the recipe for drop scones sent by Queen Elizabeth II to President Eisenhower; from Elvis Presley’s crazed letter to President Nixon to Gandhi’s appeal to Hitler for calm on the eve of World War II; and from Iggy Pop’s beautiful letter of advice to a troubled young fan to a remarkable job application from Leonardo da Vinci, LETTERS LIVE captures the humour, seriousness, sadness and brilliance that infect all our lives.
A chance for audiences to experience the innermost sentiments of these individuals, each of the five-nights will showcase nine different readings. Acclaimed cellist Natalie Clein will also perform an original song, Dialogue, each night.
Benedict Cumberbatch comments: “LETTERS LIVE makes us pause and imagine the lives behind the letters read and the circumstances of their origin. The relationship between the audience, reader and writer on a LETTERS LIVE night helps deepen our understanding of these inspiring artefacts of the human condition. They are windows into the love, beauty, pain, and humor of their creators and recipients. It’s a privilege to read this most ancient of communications live to an audience.”
Participating author Caitlin Moran adds: “Reading the right old letters is like time-travelling into someone’s heart at the exact moment they felt they needed to speak. Depending on what they had to say, there is no other format more loving, urgent, thrilling, hear-breaking, enlightening or straight-out, barkingly funny. LETTERS LIVE puts voices to the words and is genuinely one of the most exhilarating and moving events I have ever been to – I spent that last one on a table with Guy Garvey and John Niven, and we alternately laughed and wept. I feel genuinely privileged to be taking part.”
Don’t miss this one-off chance to experience an incredible array of talent re-create the emotions committed to paper by some of the world’s most iconic figures. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Letters-Live-tickets/artist/2096475.
LETTERS LIVE has always been committed to promoting literacy and fund-raising for literacy charities and supports the following charities: The Reading Agency, First Story and Ministry of Stories.
