451 SAT 27 JUNE BETHNAL GREEN “A darkly beautiful rendition of a classic dystopian novel, which hits you straight in the gut” THE STAGE
451
Periplum and Corn Exchange Newbury
451 Sat 27 June 22:00 Bethnal Green Gardens, Tower Hamlets, E2 9PA Runs approx 60mins FREE Recommended for ages 12+
Presented by Periplum and Corn Exchange Newbury This spectacular, immersive performance depicts a society where reading is forbidden and firemen are employed to burn books (451 degrees Fahrenheit is the temperature at which paper burns).
This London premiere is based on the classic novel by Ray Bradbury and will feature incredible staging with moving structures, an emotionally compelling score and of course pyrotechnics. Commissioning credits page 25 This performance is Captioned and Audio Described. Headsets available at the viewing area (with deposit) Level access to performance space. Accessible toilets on site. The accessible viewing platform is sign posted or please ask a volunteer. More information at festival.org/access
Idea Store In the dystopian world of Fahrenheit 451 the government is able to impose social control on individuals through book burning. Books – which often contain controversial views and cause people to question received opinion – don’t make for a compliant public, so ‘firemen’ were charged with destroying books to ensure happier more amenable people. In this country councils are actually legally bound to provide free books for people through public libraries – of which there are seven in Tower Hamlets. Idea Stores have hundreds of thousands of books, including the largest collection of Bengali books in London, all of them with the power to change lives.
But these books have to be read. Another theme of the book is the use of technology and mass media to enforce conformity on a dumbed-down population. Fortunately for all of us there’s been no reduction here in the desire for reading with more than 2 million – and rising – visits to Idea Stores every year. Kate Pitman, Idea Store, Tower Hamlets Council
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