“Sweet Thames, run softly, till I end my song”
The river flows through London literary history as it flows through the city’s life. Run Softly is an outdoor promenade of spoken word pieces inspired by the works of writers who in turn were inspired by the Thames. Take a trip down the river’s literary history, starting at the source with Old English poetry, all the way to the vast ocean of contemporary literature. The piece visits canonical classics such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dickens, and Eliot, but also works to uncover writers whose voices have been marginalised: women, people of colour, queer, and disabled people, all of whom have often been forgotten throughout history.
Witness how human habitation over time has shaped the city’s water landscape, as you listen to all of the Thames’ songs whilst on its very banks. Hear how writers become increasingly aware of our polluting effect on our river; you can get involved by bringing along some plastic rubbish to the performance for an interesting twist.
Written copies of the pieces will be provided for every audience member to assist those with auditory needs.
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