SOME OF THOSE TAKING TO THE LETTERS LIVE STAGE ACROSS THE SEVEN SHOWS INCLUDE:
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, CAITLIN MORAN, DOMINIC WEST, EMILIANA TORRINI, GEOFFREY PALMER, GILLIAN ANDERSON
HANIF KUREISHI, IAN MCKELLEN, JAMES RHODES, JARVIS COCKER, JOHN BISHOP, JUDE LAW, JULIET STEVENSON, LEMN SISSAY
LOUISE BREALEY, MARIELLA FROSTRUP, MATT BERRY, MEERA SYAL, NITIN SAWHNEY, OLIVIA COLMAN, OMID DJALILI
RAG ‘N’ BONE MAN, RIZ AHMED, RUSSELL BRAND, SANJEEV BHASKAR, SHAMI CHAKRABARTI, TOBY JONES, TOM ODELL
FURTHER NAMES TO BE ANNOUNCED IN DUE COURSE
Today, Letters Live announces a bumper cast of performers confirmed to take part in the run at London’s Freemason’s Hall from 10-15th March. Many more names are still to be announced; each show’s line up will remain a secret until the night itself.
Inspired by Shaun Usher’s international best-selling Letters of Note series and Simon Garfield’s To the Letter, Letters Live is a live celebration of the enduring power of literary correspondence. Each show always features a completely different array of great performers, reading remarkable letters written over the centuries and from around the world.
Speaking of their forthcoming appearances at Letters Live 2016,
Gillian Anderson said: “I am delighted to return to the Letters Live stage; These remarkable letters are truly deserving of a wider audience and the range of emotions that bubble up at these shows is a pleasure to witness. The secrecy surrounding each night’s cast adds to the fact that every performance is a unique event. From what I know so far, this run promises to be the most exciting yet – and with the support of such deserving literacy charities at its heart, what’s not to love?”
Benedict Cumberbatch said: ‘Letters Live makes us pause and imagine the lives behind letters and the circumstances of their origin. Letters are windows into the love, beauty, pain, and humour of their creators and recipients. It’s a privilege to read this most ancient of communications live to an audience and it’s a truly inspiring event to be a part of.’
“A letter is an often brilliantly personal story, which can be moving, hilarious or shocking and sometimes all three!” – Olivia Colman
Following a sell out run at Freemasons Hall in 2015, Letters Live returns in 2016 with six evening shows and one matinee on Saturday 12th March. The matinee will be a family special – details of which to follow. Refreshments at Letters Live will be hosted by Burger & Lobster with a selection of Ketel One Vodka and Tanqueray No. TEN cocktails.
The last run of Letters Live events at the Freemason’s Hall saw letters written by people as varied as David Bowie, Marge Simpson, Mohandas Gandhi, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Kurt Vonnegut, Charlotte Bronte, Richard Burton, Jane Austen and Che Guevara being read out by a host of stars. This year’s shows promise to be just as emotive, diverse and surprising.
Watch some of the highlights from last year’s Freemasons’ Hall run here: http://letterslive.com/events/
Ticket prices start at £35.(+Booking Fee). For all ticket information please visit – http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/letterslive
Letters Live has supported a range of UK literacy initiatives via auctions and audience fundraising. Beneficiaries in the UK to date are Ministry of Stories, a creative writing and mentoring centre founded by Nick Hornby in East London for young people aged 8-18, First Story, a school’s outreach literacy project founded by writer William Fiennes, and The Reading Agency. In June Letters Live co-presented its first event in Los Angeles, along with Dave Eggers’ literacy charity 826LA, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and which raised over $300,000.
Since its creation by Canongate Books in 2013, Letters Live has grown in reach and reputation. Following a partnership with film and television production company SunnyMarch in 2015, Letters Live has gone from strength to strength and will be announcing in due course a further twenty to twenty five dates across 2016 and early 2017.
For further information please contact Murray Chalmers PR:
0207 361 0730
05/02/16
NOTES TO EDITORS
About First Story
First Story changes lives through writing; we’ve seen how writing can empower young people and build their literacy, creativity and self-esteem. Our programme brings acclaimed writers into secondary schools serving low-income communities throughout the UK. Through weekly creative-writing workshops, students gain skills that can underpin their success in school, support their transition to employment and enhance the quality of their lives.
We are delighted to be collaborating with Letters Live for the second time. Letter writing is a powerful form of self-expression and we are thrilled to be part of an event that celebrates this rich art form and promotes the critical importance of literacy.
About Ministry of Stories
The Ministry of Stories is an imaginative space and community that supports and inspires young people to write. It runs innovative storytelling and writing workshops in disadvantaged areas that empower young people’s imaginations and build confidence, self-respect and communication skills. It then provides a publishing platform so their voices and stories are heard.
Current funders include Arts Council London and a number of other charitable trusts, individuals and sponsors. For a comprehensive list and to learn more about ways to donate, please see http://ministryofstories.org/support-us/.
About Canongate
Canongate Books is an Edinburgh based, independent publishing house has twice been named Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards (2003 and 2009) as well as Independent Publisher of the Year in 2013. Its international, prize-winning list of authors includes Yann Martel, Barack Obama, Muriel Spark, Ruth Ozeki, Karl Pilkington, Niccolo Ammaniti, Nick Cave, Philip Pullman, Scarlett Thomas, Matt Haig, Terry Gilliam, David Simon, Knut Hamsun, Michel Faber, Charles Bukowski, Gil Scott-Heron, Margaret Atwood, Noel Fielding, Miranda July, Shaun Usher, Simon Garfield, Olivia Laing, David Byrne, Ben Fountain, Richard Rogers, Alasdair Gray, JJ Abrams, David Shrigley, Rebecca Solnit and Geoff Dyer. As well as publishing a diverse range of exceptional writers, Canongate prides itself on the quality of its production and design for which it has won numerous awards – www.canongate.tv
About SunnyMarch
SunnyMarch was founded when internationally acclaimed actor Benedict Cumberbatch joined forces with producers Adam Ackland and Adam Selves to develop innovative scripted and non-scripted content for both the small and big screen. SunnyMarch recently announced “The War Magician” feature with StudioCanal. The War Magician tells the story of Jasper Maskelyne, the magician whose illusions helped the allied forces fight the Nazis during World War II.