Reviews
‘You will go a long way to find a more accomplished concept and performance’
Review of Soldier’s Tale by Stravinsky
The Live Literature Company has been fortunate to receive some fantastic reviews for our work. We have featured a sample of our reviews below, as well as some letters of appreciation from our dedicated audience members.
CHELTENHAM LITERATURE FESTIVAL
Val staged the recital The Poetry of War and Conscience at the National Theatre and the Cheltenham Literature Festival. The above review was taken from the Gloucestershire Echo for a performance that was given by Dame Judi Dench, Dame Harriet Walter, Gregory Cox, and Dave Fishley accompanied on piano by Alec Foreshaw.
Above (left to right): Dr. Sharon Watkinson, Dame Judi Dench, and Val.
WILLIAM BLAKE
Val brought to life William Blake’s illustrated collection of poems Songs of Innocence and Experience, which she staged at the National Portrait Gallery in London. We received the following letter of appreciation from Ruth Clysedale, a supporter of the company:
Val also staged Blake by Elliot Hayes at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London. Post-performance she received the following letter of appreciation from Jerneral W. Cranston, Professor Emeritus of Theatre Arts at Humboldt State University.
BATH LITERATURE FESTIVAL
The Artistic Director and Artistic Administrator of the festival sent the above letter in appreciation of the company’s work for this event.
BYRON IN LOVE
The Live Literature Company toured our production Byron in Love to Verona Italy. We received a fantastic review in a local Italian newspaper:
Above left: a review of our Byron in Love in an Italian newspaper.
Above right: the cast of Byron in Love performing at Monseratte Palace in Sintra (note, this is a different cast to that which performed in Italy).
THE NATIONAL THEATRE
One of the highlights of Val’s early career in stage was her staging of ‘Sylvia Plath’ A dramatic portrait by Barry Kyle at the National Theatre. This review was published in Time Out:
SOLDIER’S TALE BY STRAVINSKY
Below (left to right): a photo of the Soldier and the Princess from Val’s staging of Soldier’s Tale by Stravinsky, performed at St. David’s Hall in Cardiff and subsequently toured across Wales. On the right is a review from this production.
THE LYRIC THEATRE
Val has staged two productions at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith: Chamber Music by Arthur Kopit and Cathleen Ni Houlihan by W.B. Yeats.
Above left: a review given by Time Out for Val’s production of Chamber Music by Arthur Kopit at Lyric Theatre Hammersmith.
Above right: a review given by The Stage for Val’s production of Cathleen Ni Houlihan by W.B. Yeats.
STUDENT PRODUCTIONS
Each year Val works with Niagara University’s drama department to facilitate their study abroad programme in the UK. This review was given for our staging of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, performed by Niagara’s students.
Below left: a review of Val’s staging of Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov, performed by students of Manchester Polytechnic School of Theatre.
Below right: a review of Val’s production of Magnificence by Howard Brenton, performed by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School students.
