Speech-making may be dead at Westminster, but in communities, schools, prisons and clubs across the UK it’s alive and kicking.
We’re bringing together speechwriters, activists, academics and the voices of our nation to explore speech-making’s ability to provoke, persuade and empower.
On Tue 21 Nov, join us for a conversation on the ingredients of a great speech. Hear directly from Jessica Cunniffe who penned David Cameron’s last speech to his party as Prime Minister, and discover secrets and anecdotes behind writing political speeches. She’ll be joined by classicist and cultural historian Edith Hall, academic Henriette van der Blom, and Artistic Director of Dash Arts, Josephine Burton.
On Wed 22 Nov, we’ll explore activism and how we speak out, with artist Rinkoo Barpaga, whose works explores social and political injustices through performance, comedy, documentary and written storytelling, alongside journalist and academic Alan Finalyson and Josephine Burton. This event will be BSL interpreted by Winston Denerley and Samantha Vanterpool.
Both evenings will also feature community speakers from across the country who Dash Arts have been working with to find their voice. Our panels will discuss the power of activism and words, and their ability to change people’s minds and lives.
This series of events is the culmination of ‘Speech Speech,’ a year of AHRC funded workshops with Birmingham University and University of East Anglia. It will then lead to ‘Our Public House,’ a state-of-the-nation theatre production from Dash Arts inspired by the speeches and writing of our national participants, from Writer Jude Christian and Director Josephine Burton.
In partnership with Deaf Explorer, Manchester Deaf Centre, Novus Foundations for Change, Underground Lights, and Sheffield Theatres. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Arts Council England, Three Monkies Trust, individual giving and with support from HOME Manchester.