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Firth project for Canongate

22.08.12 | Benedicte Page

Canongate is working with a group of actors and musicians including Academy Award-winner Colin Firth on a multimedia project called The People Speak.

Alongside a book, the project will include a stage show which will bring to life the voices of British campaigners, dissidents and visionaries from the 12th century to the present day.

The idea began life in America, where performers such as Matt Damon and Bob Dylan supported the scheme. Author and editor Anthony Arnove has now brought the idea to the UK, where a cast including Ian McKellen and Rupert Everett will perform at the Tabernacle in Notting Hill, west London, on 16th September.

Canongate will publish an accompanying book, The People Speak, on 13th September priced at £17.99, compiled by Firth, Arnove and historian David Horspool, collecting a range of speeches, songs and letters from British history by writers including Emmeline Pankhurst and Oscar Wilde.

Firth said: "The idea was simple. Take the most impassioned speeches about the fight for what is right and bring them to life for a new generation. The reason why it's so powerful is because it's about everything that matters to us: love and life, sex and death, justice and freedom.”

Canongate said other multimedia components to the project will follow.
 

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