Symposium: Tagore in modern times - March 31st 2016

The Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley St. London W1K 1HF.

The Cultural Wing of The High Commission of India.

March 31st 6.00 pm for 6.40 pm

Symposium: The relevance of Tagore in modern timesThe Chair is the distinguished politician Clare Short

This symposium is the first of two to commemorate the Golden Jubilee anniversary of The Tagoreans, organisation that believes in Rabindranath Tagore’s philosophy of life and draws its inspiration from his creativity in various fields such as literature, music and art. The second symposium will be in September 2016.

We are living in a world beset with various threats to humanity with growing religious conflicts, political repression, poverty and environmental destruction. This event will focus on the importance of Tagore’s ideas and vision to meet these challenges and help to save humanity. Speakers:

•  Dr John Stevens - Leverhulme Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Languages and Cultures of South Asia, SOAS. The main focus of his research is historical, utilizing sources in English and Bengali to promote the understanding of the histories of India and Britain.

• Ragini Mohite - Postgraduate Research Student at the University of Leeds. Her thesis deals with the early 20th century writings of Tagore and Yeats.

• Valerie Doulton - Writer, Producer, Artistic Director of the Live literature Company. She directed and produced William Radice’s translation of The Post Office.

Presented by the Tagoreans.

Live Lit Co returns to Venice with Blake - February 8th 2016

Above image: The Divine Comedy, Beatrice & Dante,
image by William Blake.

Venice, Italy – February 8^th 2016 at 6pm. Talk on Blake followed by dinner.

At: Marina Militare Circulo Ufficiale ‘Adriano Foscari’, Fondamenta dell’Arsenale, Castello 2168, Venezia.

We began 2016 with one of our international events and a return to Italy where Val gave a talk to the Circolo Italo Britannico Venezia, on her staging of William Blake’s work, in particular Songs of Innocence and Experience. This included live readings of translations of Blake’s poems into Italian by great 20^th Century Italian poet, Ungaretti. And music by John Tavener inspired by Blake. 

This is the first event we have staged in Italy since our tour of Bryon in Love to Verona, and it was delightful to be invited to return.

Val Talks About Her Stagings of William Blake in Venice - February 2016

The above photo was taken at the Venice Carnival. Val was invited to Venice during the carnival by the Circolo Italo-Britannico Venezia to talk to them about her stagings of William Blake's work.

Live Lit Co supports campaign for Climate Change

Above photo Val took of Emma Thompson speaking to the crowds
outside the Houses of Parliament.

Val joined the crowds for the September 2014 Climate Change London march.

The Live Literature Company has been a long supporter of this issue. Click here to see The Live Literature Company's Summer Party page for our message from the Director of Friends of the Earth.

The next Climate Change march in London will be tomorrow Sunday 29^th November 2015.

Lord Desai speaks on the Indian Constitution

Lord Desai speaking on the Indian Constitution

Val was invited to hear Lord Desai (pictured above) speak on the Indian Constitution at the High Commission of India in London.

His very lucid talk was followed by questions from the audience. Lord Desai explained to one questioner that it is not legal for the Indian caste system to be practiced in the UK.

One of Val’s Public Speaking students from Birkbeck was in the audience, and Val was delighted to hear from him about the launch of his company, Speaking English Well.

Please click here to be taken to The Live Literature Company website.

A great way for children to see their first Shakespeare performance

The audience at Hall's Croft Garden, Stratford

Children continue to enjoy the way The Live Literature Company perform their shortened Shakespeare productions as you can see in the audience photograph above, taken at Hall's Croft Garden, Stratford in July this Summer,

In the background is Paul Edmondson, Head of Knowledge, The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, who gave a sonnet master class to Val's American students, who were performing Twelfth Night in One Hour to this audience.

Please click here to be taken to The Live Literature Company website.

Peter Brook gives his archive to the V&A

Val took the above photo of Peter Brook chatting at
the V&A’s special festival dedicated to him
and his work. The V&A have just brought
Peter Brook’s archive.

The Live Literature Company staged a World Premiere of a new translation by Jesus Montero of Federico Lorca’s play, The Shoemaker’s Wonderful Wife, as part of this festival. In the audience were people from the Spanish Embassy and the Cervantes Institute. Val is delighted that this great Spanish writer is now in the Company’s repertoire. 

Please click here to be taken to The Live Literature Company website.

Egyptian Cultural Bureau focuses on Rights for Women

Nadia El Kholy (on left on above panel photo)

Nadia El Kholy (on left on above panel photo), invited Val to take part in a discussion and talks evening on the progress of education for women in Egypt.

Val is delighted to continue a dialogue with Nadia, Cultural Counsellor and Director of The Egyptian Cultural Bureau, London. They have shared discussions over some years with a view to The Live Literature Company being part of their Cultural Programme.

Nadia holds a Ph.D in English Literature, and has translated Alice in Wonderland into Arabic.

Please click here to be taken to The Live Literature Company website.

Nawal El Saadawi's writing features at WOW Festival and Live Lit Co Amnesty evening

Val took the above photo of Nawal at the WOW Festival
on the Southbank where she was interviewed by Jon Snow.

Val chose Nawal’s writing to be part of the New Spring Without FGM performance evening which was given at Amnesty International by The Live Literature Company and the creative writer’s group attached to Amnesty. The insight of Nawal’s writing on women in contemporary Egypt was a very important part of this programme.

Please click here to be taken to The Live Literature Company website.

Singing to help rebuild Battersea Arts Centre - Summer 2015

Valerie preparing for her performance

Val sang in this fundraising performance of The Messiah in support of Battersea Arts Centre, which has recently been devastated by fire.

Please click here to be taken to The Live Literature Company website.

The Live Literature Company attends The Concert of Peace

The Concert of Peace (above)

Val was invited to The Concert for Peace held on January 31st at The Egyptian Cultural Bureau, London. The Egyptian Ambassador greeted the audience. 

The concert honoured Muslim, Jewish, and Christian practices. The Live Literature Company is linked to The Egyptian Cultural Bureau through the prose poem Val wrote, 'First Love', which was performed at Amnesty International in May 2014. Val hopes to further develop these International Cultural Company links.

One of the further Education courses that Val has studied is World Religions, at Birkbeck, London University.

Please click here to be taken to The Live Literature Company website.

Live Literature Company's First World War Commemorative performance

On January 23rd 2015 Val is invited by the Centenary Partnership to a review of the First World War work in the Government Building, Cardiff.

This publicity was also posted at 1914.org and on the Culture 24 website. The Live Literature Company is a member of the Imperial War Museum's Centenary Partnership.

Please click here to be taken to The Live Literature Company website.

The Live Literature Company attends the Visiting Arts Producer's Breakfast at Edinburgh Festival

Yvette Vaughan Jones, CEO Visiting Arts

Fergus Linehan speaking with Ben Twist in chair listening

Val was delighted to attend the Visiting Arts Producer's Breakfast at the Edinburgh Festival again this year.  The Live Literature Company chimes very closely with the Visiting Arts logo you can see in the photo below, 'Strengthening intercultural dialogue through the Arts'.

Also this year Ben Twist (Director, Creative Carbon Scotland) spoke on the importance of sustainability in the arts, this also chimes closely with The Live Literature Company work focusing on sustainability. Please do click here to visit our Annual Summer Party page to find out more about our work on sustainability.

The incoming Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, Fergus Linehan, spoke on his vision, and emphasised the importance he thinks independent producers will play in the Arts in the future. As  many of The Live Literature Company membership will know, a considerable amount of Val's time running the Company is spent working as an independent producer on behalf of the Company.