Val’s writing

“The bird flying free

The child behind barriers

Hoping for Freedom.”

 

A haiku by Val for On the Move at Amnesty International’s Human Rights Centre.

 

Val feels very fortunate to have had what she calls her ‘writing rooms’ for most of her life. Though running The Live Literature Company takes up an enormous amount of her time, when there is a space, Val seizes the opportunity to focus on her creative writing.

• In April 2025 World Premiere performance of Shakespeare’s Ophelia meets Pessoa’s Ofelia, a full-length performance piece about the celebrated 20th Century Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa and his links to Shakespeare.

 

•  First Love, a prose poem set in 1968/9, Cambridge. Last performed in 2014 at Amnesty International Human Right’s Action Centre for The New Spring Without FGM. First published by Amazon July 2024 ISBN 9798337556338

 

• Ivor Gurney – Remembered – Poet, Composer, and First World War Private Soldier, a full-length performance piece about Gurney’s life and work. (Not yet performed).

 

•  Harriett Martineau and Charlotte Bronte: A Sketch of their Relationship, a performance piece about the short-lived friendship of these two remarkable 19th century women. Val originally staged this play in 2018 for the Martineau Society Conference in Dr. Williams’s Library, Bloomsbury, London. First published by Amazon May 2020 ISBN 9798644014408: You can purchase your own copy here.

 

• Song of Innocence, a prose poem of twins communicating in the womb. Last performed in 2016 at Amnesty International Human Right’s Action Centre for On the Move: You can listen to the podcast here –

•  The Quilt, a performance piece about bereavement and processing grief. It was last performed in 2007 at Guy’s Hospital Chapel, in memory of Val’s mother.  Prior to this, it was performed at the National Portrait Gallery, the Tristan Bates Theatre at the Actors’ Centre in an evening of Val’s writing, and the Medical Humanities Conference at King’s College London. The premiere performance was given at The Bear and Staff Theatre.

 

• The Chestnut Seller, a short performance piece set in front of the Royal Opera House. Its sole performance was given at the Tristan Bates Theatre, at the Actors’ Centre, in a performance evening of Val’s writing.

 

•  A Spiritual and Political Challenge to the Nation, a dialogue between Oliver Cromwell, King Charles I, and John Milton for Milton’s 400^th birth anniversary. It was performed in 2010 at Banqueting House, Whitehall, London.