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Archive event

14 December 2016

Letters Live presented a truly unique show that took place in the chapel of Her Majesty’s Prison, Brixton.

Archive event

4-5 June 2022

Join Benedict Cumberbatch and friends as the hugely popular all-star show returns for the sixth year to Hay Festival for two shows. Letters Live 1 Saturday 4 June 2022, 7pm Baillie Gifford Stage Join Benedict Cumberbatch and friends as the hugely popular all-star show returns for the sixth year to Hay Festival and in aid of the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. A celebration of the enduring power of literary correspondence, Letters Live sees a diverse array of outstanding performers read remarkable letters, inspired by and often drawn from Shaun Usher’s bestselling Letters of Note anthologies. The full cast will be kept under wraps until the performance. All ticket sales from this event go to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. If you cannot attend in person, there will be a fundraising virtual livestream tickets on sale shortly on the Hay website. Letters Live 2 Sunday 5 June 2022, 11.30am Baillie Gifford Stage Join an all-star cast for a one-off, family-friendly edition of Letters Live, a hugely popular celebration of the enduring power of literary correspondence. The event sees a diverse array of outstanding performers read remarkable letters, inspired by and often drawn from Shaun Usher’s best-selling Letters of Note anthologies. The full cast will be kept under wraps until the performance. Price: £25.00 https://www.hayfestival.com/p-19057-letters-live-2.aspx

Archive event

30 October 2021

Letters Live returns to the iconic Royal Albert Hall with another incredible top-secret line-up.

Archive event

28 October 2022

Letters Live returns to the iconic Royal Albert Hall for the third time with a phenomenal top-secret line-up.

Archive event

28 November 2025

Letters Live returns to the iconic Royal Albert Hall with another incredible top-secret line-up.

Event

3 September 2026

In just over a decade, Letters Live has gone from being one of the most talked about shows in the UK to being a truly global phenomenon, captivating audiences in sold-out shows around the world. Beloved for bringing to life the intimacy, humour, and raw emotion found in letters, each Letters Live show features a surprise all-star cast bringing remarkable correspondence to life through unforgettable readings. Past line-ups have included Benedict Cumberbatch, Bryan Cranston, Olivia Colman, Taika Waititi, Cate Blanchett and Laurence Fishburne, to name just a few – plus remarkable musical performances from artists including Thom Yorke, David Byrne and Laura Mvula.

Archive event

26 June 2024

Letters Live, the thrilling live show celebrating the timeless power of the humble letter, made its debut in Berlin. Over the course of one evening, a top-secret cast brought life to history’s most remarkable letters, written over the centuries and from around the world, offering the audience a truly unique show, never to be repeated.

Archive event

22 April 2026

Letters Live, the one-of-a-kind celebration of the power of written correspondence, returns to London's Royal Albert Hall for an unforgettable show in celebration of Earth Day, in support of Greenpeace.

Archive event

6 March 2024

Known for its engaging performances of remarkable letters from around the world and across history, Letters Live will join forces with the Women’s Prize to create an unforgettable evening of storytelling, showcasing the art and power of the written word. Each Letters Live event is unique, as the entire list of performers is kept secret from the audience until the moment they take to the stage. Last week’s performers included Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Helena Bonham Carter, Angelique Kidjo, Stephen Fry, Kae Tempest, Minnie Driver, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Will Sharpe and Gillian Anderson. The letters read are unpredictable, varied and always memorable. Where some express anger or pain, others delight the audience with wisdom and humour. Over the years, letters written by iconic characters such as David Bowie, Marge Simpson, Mohandas Gandhi, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Kurt Vonnegut, Charlotte Bronte, James Baldwin, Charles Dickens, Emily Dickinson, John Steinbeck, Madonna, Tom Hanks, Dorothy Parker and Che Guevara have been read, alongside hidden gems from lesser-known figures.

Archive event

22 January 2026

Letters Live are thrilled to announce that we are partnering with Cunard on a very special show on Thursday 22nd January 2026, at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to The King’s Trust, supporting young people to transform their futures.