Founded in 2002 by Producer, Artistic Director, Writer and Teacher of Performance Studies, Valerie Doulton. The Live Literature Company is dedicated to communicating the artistic heritage of the world, both classic and contemporary, through performances of excellence, at affordable prices.

We believe in bringing forward the cultural heritage of this country. We create opportunity and accessibility through communicating big ideas for everyone with our diverse casting ethos, and high quality performances. We bring words to life, with love and laughter. The company also occasionally gives free performances.

Performance evening at Amnesty International May 1st 2014 - The New Spring Without FGM

The Company's first Forum Theatre performance evening held in collaboration with Amnesty International's Creative Writer's Group. The evening included a performance of Val's prose poem First Love, a tragedy about cultural misunderstanding, performed by Madeleine Oaten and Tony Hasnath, readings given by Val and the actors from Contemporary Arab Literature written against FGM, and talks against FGM given by Yvette Robbin-Coker from Forward and Jennette Arnold AM OBE. Music for the programme included Siphiwo singing Hope (featuring a message of Hope from Nelson Mandela).  

The discussion with the audience after the performances was chaired by David Maidment OBE. Visit our blog to watch a mobile phone recording of First Love performance filmed by a member of the audience. 

Welsh Millenium Centre Performance - Remembrance Day 2012

Below: Val Doulton with members of the cast at the Welsh Millennium Centre.

Celebration for Tagore's 150th Birth Anniversary in 2011 - The British Library and The Nehru Centre

Performances of his beautiful short play The Post Office given by Edward Halsted, Nicola Tagoe, Amerjit Deu, Lawrence Anthony, Harmage Singh Kalirai, with children Jyoti Goel and Noah Brooks. Directed by Valerie Doulton.

Film Edit of Tagore's 'The Post Office' performed at The British Library

Combined Arts Milton Programme 2010 - Spoken Words, Song, Dance and Visual Image

Below: the cast with Val Doulton at The Banqueting House, just before opening the Combined Arts Milton programme there in 2010.

These performances included a script written by Val especially for The Banqueting House, in the voices of Cromwell, Milton’s inner and outer voices, and the voices of King Charles I and King Charles II. 

From left to right, Margo Cargill, Dave Fishley, Spencer Cowan, Richard Hansell, Lucy Casson, Henry Moss.  The concert pianist Sam Haywood is not in the picture.

Combined Arts Work also includes:

Productions on the work of William Blake, featuring the spoken word, visual image, dance and music, at major venues and Literary Festivals in the U.K.

International Work includes:

Byron at Monserrate Palace, Sintra and Verona, Italy. First Love by Samuel Beckett, which opened at The National Theatre and toured to Berlin for The International Beckett Festival.

Recent Student Work

The Live Literature Company are proud to support the work of our next generation of talented young performers. Please see our Education and Community page for details.

The Live Literature Company's Introduction to Shakespeare for children - ran in 2014 as part of Shakespeare Week launched by The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. We look forward to this collaboration again in 2015. To see our film for Primary School children please click on our link for The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's website.

To keep up to date with the latest information and news about the company and our forthcoming performances, please become a member and so register for our quarterly newsletter. 

With thanks to Simon ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) for taking many of the photos that appear on this site and to Grainne White for creating the logo for The Live Literature Company.