Letters brought to life. Head to our YouTube to watch letters performed by remarkable talent.
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Here's @GillianA backstage at Letters Live @royalalberthall, just before taking to the stage to read her own letter addressed to her 16-year-old self.
‘Follow your dreams, not your boyfriends’ 👏👏👏
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‘If your convictions are worth anything, you should be ready to stand up for them’
Benedict Cumberbatch joins us to read the final letter of Vladimir Putin’s most prominent critic, Alexei Navalny, sent shortly before Alexei paid the ultimate price for his beliefs.
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Feeling a bit blue this Monday?
Here's Tom Hiddleston reading one of the greatest love letters ever, written by Gerald Durrell to his soon-to-be wife Lee McGeorge.
Blue Monday, Blue Schmonday: piped.video/watch?v=PE4msFl_…
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Anyone remember that time Taika Waititi met the Queen 👑 (a.k.a Olivia Colman) at @RoyalAlbertHall?
📸 @GregWInsight
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‘Honestly, I am embarrassed just writing this letter’
Benedict Cumberbatch joins us to read an open letter to People Who Don’t Make Every Conceivable Effort to Ensure that the Bathroom Door is Locked.
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Benedict Cumberbatch leads the crowd @WildernessHQ in a rousing chorus of ‘Happy birthday’ to celebrate his mum’s 88th birthday today 😍
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We're BACK baby.
Two evenings at the iconic @RoyalAlbertHall kick off tonight. Who's joining us? 🙋♀️
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Dear all,
We would like to invite you to #ReadALetter...
piped.video/watch?v=noE6EMp2…
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This is fab! bit.ly/1QAwTv5 @GillianA writes to her 16 year old self knowing what she knows now!
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"I know what taste is & what vulgarity is." Tennessee Williams to Joseph Breen October 29th, 1950 Read by @GillianA
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‘Hello it's me’
Benedict Cumberbatch re-joins us to read an incredibly moving letter by Cyrus Thatcher, one of the youngest soldiers to lose his life in the Afghanistan war aged only 19, written to his family back home.
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Laurence Fishburne, Benedict Cumberbatch & Ian McShane backstage at Letters Live NYC, May 19th 2018 instagram.com/p/BkTA8dQnezt/
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Not long now... see you tomorrow :)
Grab a ticket from the link below
hayfestival.com/p-19041-lett…
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Louise Brealey, Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch backstage. Amazing line-up tonight.
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‘I remember opening the door to find an entire flock of seagulls in my room’
Benedict Cumberbatch reads Nick Burchill’s letter to the Empress Hotel in Novia Scotia, 18 years after being banned from the premises due to an unfortunate incident.
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Need a distraction from the doomscroll? We've got you.
Here's @thomyorke performing at our @RoyalAlbertHall show. It was Thom's first live performance since lockdown, with a song from his new side project The Smile.
It is absolute magic. Enjoy.
piped.video/n489zkNfjvE
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Benedict Cumberbatch takes to the Letters Live stage and the applause @RoundhouseLdn is deafening 👏
It’s good to be back!
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Anyone else glued to the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials? 🙋♀️
Watch Jodie Whittaker read Peter Capaldi's heart-warming letter to a 9-year-old Doctor Who fan who was sad to see his favourite Time Lord leave, as Capaldi was to be replaced by Jodie.
👉 piped.video/VS0iFWwvDbs
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'Gentlemen, I just don't belong here'
Two years today the great Ursula K. Le Guin died. Here's a quick reminder of what a badass she was.
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A well-deserved drink for Benedict after our biggest show ever at the @RoyalAlbertHall. Cheers!
📸@GregWInsight
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Last night, Benedict Cumberbatch read Alexei Navalny's last letter, sent weeks before Navalny paid the ultimate price for his beliefs, dying in a Siberian prison after years of relentless campaigning against corruption.
Watch this incredible letter now: piped.video/watch?v=25qEVGqP…
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‘Sex loses all its power and magic when it becomes explicit, mechanical, overdone’
Gillian Anderson joins us to read American novelist Anaïs Nin’s frustrated letter to 'The Collector', an anonymous client who was paying $1 per page of erotic fiction she wrote for him.
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Here, for your enjoyment in these strange times, is @GillianA reading a letter from anthropologist Margaret Mead to her younger sister, Elizabeth, about her first sexual encounter. You are very, very welcome. Stay safe x bit.ly/2R8Amup
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The moment that Little Amal met Benedict @RoyalAlbertHall.
Little Amal is a 3.5m-tall puppet which began an epic walk of 9,000km across 13 countries, to raise awareness of the countless children fleeing war and persecution across the world.
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Some NEWS…
We are beyond excited to reveal that Benedict Cumberbatch is confirmed for BOTH of our @royalalberthall shows later this month.
If you haven’t got a ticket to see us on the 27th or 28th October, grab one now (all in aid of @chooselove): royalalberthall.com/tickets/…
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Just a small hint at who might be on the line up tomorrow night 👇
Join us at 7pm for a special film of some of our favourite ever performances of incredible letters at the glorious @FreemasonsHall.
Subscribe on YouTube so you don't miss it: piped.video/letterslive
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Today is @GillianA's birthday! We thank her for always mesmerising us with her performances. #LettersLive
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‘You are my sweetheart, I am pledged to you [...] I want to feel your hands upon my privates.’
A very romantic (and slightly risqué...) epistolary exchange read by Benedict Cumberbatch and @louisebrealey.
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Having @GillianA theatre actress, activist and writer as one of our performers this year is a real treat!
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'I write to you today, seeking a pardon'
May we suggest you kick off your weekend in style by watching Benedict Cumberbatch read this hilarious letter of apology to a hotel, for 'a string of unfortunate events.'
Enjoy: piped.video/ZXusaBNctC8
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Happy 40th Birthday to the talented & inspiring Letters Live ambassador Benedict Cumberbatch #HappyBirthdayBenedict
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Huge thanks to the thousands who came to watch Letters Live at Wilderness Festival. Our largest ever audiences. We didn't want to leave!
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Sophie Hunter preparing to read a beautiful, heartbreaking letter from Chrissy Hart to J. K. Rowling.
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‘Everything begins again’
Jodie Whittaker joins us to read Peter Capaldi’s letter to a 9-year-old Doctor Who fan who was sad to see his favourite Time Lord leave the show. The next month, Capaldi was to be replaced by Jodie!
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‘Grinding, grinding, grinding away at yourself. Stop it and just DO’
Benedict Cumberbatch brings down the house with a rousing reading of the classic motivational letter American artist Sol le Witt wrote to fellow artist Eva Hesse.
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Twenty mins to go 🙌
Join us at 7pm for a special film of some of our favourite ever letters performed at the magnificent @FreemasonsHall.
Here are a few backstage photos from over the years to get you in the mood.
Set a reminder so you don't miss it: piped.video/k0ZoacVdnho
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'There is hope for mankind in their sacrifice'
In a moment of MAGIC @RoyalAlbertHall, Benedict Cumberbatch performs a speech Nixon would have read if Apollo 11 had become stranded on the moon, followed by the incredible @annalapwood on the organ 😍 piped.video/5VX7zYYA_Ec
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Amazing show in Venice last night in aid of the World Literacy Foundation, feat. Thom Yorke, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sophie Hunter, Joanne Froggatt and David Cronenberg.
instagram.com/p/BnMSSJ1gbVl/
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We welcome Benedict Cumberbatch back to read a short and extremely snarky letter written by Hunter S. Thompson.
Don’t forget, you can watch all of the @roundhouseldn action from the comfort of home this Saturday night. Grab your ticket and join us: bit.ly/Roundhouse_Stream
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This time tomorrow night we’ll be bringing you a special film of some of our favourite ever performances (perhaps including this one from @twhiddleston...) of letters at the magnificent @FreemasonsHall.
Subscribe to our YouTube so you don't miss it 👉 piped.video/letterslive
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Happy Galentine's Day all!
Today what could be better than everyone's ultimate girl crush @GillianA reading a letter of advice to her 16-year-old self?
Enjoy: piped.video/FHXPcyxXCCI
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Total national treasures @TVSanjeev and @MeeraSyal backstage at Letters Live @RoyalAlbertHall on Saturday.
📸 @misanharriman
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Huge congratulations Benedict 👏👏👏
Last night at the Baftas, The Power of the Dog won Best Picture and Best Director! #BAFTA2022
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‘What sort of animal would serve a dessert with peas in?’
Benedict Cumberbatch brings down the roof at @RoyalAlbertHall with a reading of @olibeale’s hilarious letter of complaint to @richardbranson after a baffling Virgin Atlantic meal.
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Happy birthday, Benedict!
To celebrate, why not watch Benedict read the hell out of the best cover letter ever written: piped.video/watch?v=KAmEsI8f…
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Delighted to see Sam Mendes' 1917 racking up nine @BAFTA nominations 🙌
It stars not one but FOUR of our amazing Letters Live talent: Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Scott, Mark Strong and Colin Firth.
Anyone else VERY excited to see it?
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It is with unbridled joy to announce Letters Live is returning for a week of shows, Oct 4-8th, at Freemasons' Hall..
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Benedict Cumberbatch describes a rather sticky situation from a letter called ‘Stupidity’ from ‘Name withheld’, written to Superior Insurance.
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Watch @TVSanjeev's hilarious rendition of Napoleon Bonaparte's overwrought letters to his wife Joséphine, played by Miriam Margolyes.
If this doesn't get you ready for Valentine's Day, gang, we don't know what will.
Watch it in full 👉 piped.video/ObTqDkykJ_A
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Happy New Year's Eve, gang!
Here's wishing you a wonderful (letter-filled) 2024.
Thank you all so much for being on this incredible journey with us 🙏
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Joining us at LOVE LETTERS LIVE this Friday?
Want a little taster of what to expect?
Here's Tom Hiddleston reading one of the greatest love letters ever 👉piped.video/watch?v=PE4msFl_…
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We are SO excited to announce that we're bringing you a full HOUR-LONG film of some of our favourite ever performances of incredible letters, taken from the beautiful @FreemasonsHall.
Tune in Sunday 7pm GMT on YouTube.
Subscribe so you don't miss it 👉 piped.video/letterslive
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'Stop it, and just DO'
In 1965, pioneering American artist Eva Hesse was suffering from creative block, so fellow artist Sol LeWitt wrote her this letter.
For your viewing pleasure, here's Benedict Cumberbatch doing an electrifying reading.
Hands up if you needed this today ✋
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'Grief is non-negotiable'
Watch Benedict Cumberbatch reading @nickcave's deeply moving letter on the experience of loss, performed at @RoundhouseLDN: piped.video/watch?v=lMsqmYnc…
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Hands up, who joined us for our @RoyalAlbertHall extravaganza last month✋
The lovely people at @Forbes have reviewed the show and they've called us 'remarkable.' Yikes. bit.ly/34WYIvE
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‘In our age of technology we sometimes forget that the intimacy of a handwritten letter is a damn fine thing’
Benedict Cumberbatch introduces our second show @wildernesshq this weekend ✨
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Anyone remember that time we did a show at the Royal Albert Hall? That was quite a good night.
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Happy New Year everyone!
Need a push in the right direction on those resolutions? What else could we offer but Benedict Cumberbatch reading Sol LeWitt's unforgettable letter against self-doubt.
Watch it in full: piped.video/watch?v=VnSMIgsP…
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‘For you, Jessica, I would dive into the Sarlacc Pit of Tatooine’
Asa Butterfield joins us to read a letter from a young Star Wars fan to the object of his affections.
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Today is Benedict Cumberbatch's birthday!
To celebrate in style, here's Benedict reading a letter the writer Kurt Vonnegut wrote to 'the Earth's planetary citizens of 2088.'
Enjoy.
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'I want to tell you that I am sorry, and that I tried'
To mark #EarthDay today, we've got something special for you. Here's Benedict Cumberbatch reading a powerful letter of apology from a father to his children: piped.video/watch?v=yJvczRkQ…
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Bad news: this Saturday evening's show featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and a top secret line-up @hayfestival is now sold out
Good news: You can buy a £5 pass to livestream it, with all proceeds going to the Ukraine @decappeal ✨
Buy yours now: hayfestival.com/p-19041-lett…
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‘I am left in quite the quandary!’
Benedict Cumberbatch reads Joe Lycett’s elegant letter of complaint after being caught short at Euston Station without 30p for the public toilets.
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‘I am too happy that it is my body that you want, that occupies your thoughts’
Benedict Cumberbatch and Louise Brealey take to the stage to read just two of the hundreds of letters wartime lovers Chris Barker and Bessie Moore wrote to each other
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On what would have been Rik Mayall’s 60th birthday, Ade Edmondson reads an amazing letter from Rik to Bob Geldof
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'The spectacle sickened me'
Benedict Cumberbatch joins us to read our first letter of the night, a letter of complaint notoriously grumpy Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw wrote after attending a performance at the Royal Opera House 👀
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Over the moon to see 1917 has won seven @BAFTAs 🙌
It stars not one but FOUR of our brilliant Letters Live talent: Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Scott, Mark Strong and Colin Firth.
Hands up, who's seen it? ✋
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The Queen aka Olivia Colman gets ready backstage before our biggest show ever @RoyalAlbertHall.
📸@GregWinsight
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Last night was a BIG one.
There were too many amazing performers to squeeze into a tweet, so make sure you check out our set list for a full rundown of our first ever @RoyalAlbertHall show: bit.ly/31MjzAG
📸@ParadisePh0t0
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‘Something will have gone out of us as a species if we let the remaining wildernesses be destroyed.’
Benedict Cumberbatch reads a letter from novelist and environmentalist
Wallace Stegner, written in 1964 but more timely than ever today.
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Oh, what a NIGHT.
Just a handful of our incredible readers from last night, working their magic on stage @royalalberthall and bringing letters to life ✨
Hands up, who was there? And who’s joining us next time? 🙋♀️
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For the record, the rest of us here at Letters Live are deeply disturbed by this offensive photo. These are not our values.
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Benedict Cumberbatch and @louisebrealey perform letters from wartime lovers Chris and Bessie @UnionChapelUK.
Be prepared for laughs and tears, folks.
Watch in full here: piped.video/eeQME5WzTT4
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‘Your actions disturb and inspire, and I can’t look away’
Benedict Cumberbatch joins us to read a hysterical letter written to ‘the gentleman blow-drying his balls in the gym locker room.’
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We are incredibly saddened to hear the news of Helen McCrory.
We were honoured to have her read at Letters Live. She was a brilliant and vital performer, especially marvellous at reading letters with a touch of mischief.
Our hearts go out to Damian and their family.
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#benedictcumberbatch reading hilarious apology letter from a man banned from a hotel in BC Canada independent.co.uk/life-style…
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'The spectacle sickened me'
After attending a performance @RoyalOperaHouse, notoriously grumpy playwright and critic George Bernard Shaw wrote a letter of complaint to The Times.
Benedict Cumberbatch joined us to read it @RoyalAlbertHall last week: piped.video/watch?v=-tGwDjwn…
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LETTERS LIVE at the ROYAL ALBERT HALL! October 3rd, 2019, for one night only. This is our most ambitious show to date, like nothing we've done before, and we are beyond excited. Good grief. @RoyalAlbertHall bit.ly/2HvF8xS
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‘We will be travelling to various times and places via the humble letter’
Benedict Cumberbatch opens our first night @RoyalAlbertHall ✨
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‘It would be easier and pleasanter to drown myself’
Benedict Cumberbatch embodies notoriously cantankerous playwright George Bernard Shaw as he reads just a few of his grumpy replies to requests from the public.
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This weekend in NYC: Benedict Cumberbatch, Cynthia Erivo, Edie Falco, Ian McShane, James Earl Jones, Katie Holmes, Kyle MacLachlan, Laurence Fishburne, Molly Ringwald, Uzo Aduba, and more! Some tickets still available...
letterslive.com/event/letter…
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Can we interest you in a film of some of our most incredible performances ever?
How about TWO films? That's right, two magical films of readings, feat. Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Noma Dumezweni & more are available for free on YouTube. Go on: buff.ly/3pdjrFK
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Just a bit of backstage goodness taken by the brilliant @misanharriman at Saturday's Letters Live @WildernessHQ show.
@louisebrealey swotting up on her letters, @TaronEgerton and Jason Isaacs rocking @chooselove and Claire Foy chewing the fat with @TVSanjeev 😍
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‘Why are children ever born singly?’
@GillianA returns to the stage to read writer Katherine Mansfield’s joyful 1919 letter to her friend, the painter Anne Estelle Rice, who was heavily pregnant with twins.
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