Charity Performances
The Live Literature Company has proudly supported both local and national charities through our performances . . .
The Live Literature Company has proudly supported both local and national charities through our performances…
RNLI Performance, Salcombe, Devon
THE RNLI & AGE CONCERN UK
Above: two students from Niagara University playing the roles of Rosalind and Orlando in Love Scenes from As You Like It With Songs in Salcombe.
All of our Shakespeare productions with the students of Niagara University that have been performed in Salcombe, Devon, have been in aid of the RNLI and Age Concern UK.
We are proud to have been able to fundraise for these charities and are grateful to our Devon-based audiences for their support.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
In Autumn 2016, Val produced On The Move, a combined arts awareness-raising evening featuring performances and talks focusing on FGM, children’s rights, and child refugees on the move, which was followed by a discussion with the audience. The programme included Val’s prose poem Song of Innocence. The evening was presented in collaboration with the Human Rights Creative Writer’s Group at Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre in London.
In 2014, Val produced another combined arts awareness-raising performance evening, The New Spring Without FGM. This was also in collaboration with the Human Right’s Creative Writers Group and was also followed by a discussion of the audience, chaired by David Maidment 0BE. The evening included a performance by Madeline Oaten and Tony Hasnath of Val’s prose poem First Love, a tragedy about cultural misunderstanding. Talks against FGM were given by Yvette Robbin-Coker from Forward and Labour politician Jennette Arnold AM OBE.
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH
In 2013, Val staged a performance from The Book of Thel by William Blake, in which he envisions the connection of the whole of creation. This was performed by actors Yvonne Bonnamy, Laura Carey and Catherine Harvey on London’s Open Garden Squares weekend.
This was an incredibly important performance for The Live Literature Company because it marked the company’s longstanding dedication to highlighting climate change as one of the most prominent issues we are currently facing as a global community of people. Andy Atkins, Director of Friends of the Earth gave valuable support to Val in writing:
“I do believe we need to link the arts and sciences in a much more concerted push for sustainability urgently. All power to you!”
This performance was followed by the company’s annual summer party, which was held in the conservatory of the kitchen garden at Lauderdale House; we shared tea listening to the fabulous Two For Tea Music, sung by Wendy Morgan.
MACMILLAN CANCER CARE
The Live Literature Company staged Charlotte, Emily, and Anne by Douglas Verrall at St. John’s Church in Waterloo and the United Reformed Church in Highgate Village. These two special performances of our esteemed Bronte production raised money for Macmillan Cancer Care. Douglas chose to donate our funds to this charity after being diagnosed with liver cancer.
Above Left: The Bronte cast (back) Helen Ayres (middle: left to right) Yvonne Bonnamy, Anna Calder-Marshall, and Catherine Harvey (below) Karen Lomas.
Above Right: Karen Lomas, Anna Calder-Marshall, and Catherine Harvey.
THE STROKE ASSOCIATION
The Live Literature Company has also raised money for the Stroke Association with a performance of Val’s play The Quilt at Guy’s hospital Chapel, dedicated to Val’s mother Daphne Doulton.