It Takes a City tells the extraordinary story of two bomb disposal crews, one in 2008, when the uncovering of an unexploded WW2 bomb led to the evacuation of the city centre, and one during the blitz of 1940, linked together by the lethal consequences of the aerial bombing of Coventry. This special promenade performance with live music, by theatre company Talking Birds, reflects on the legacy of conflict, taking place 85 years to the day when Provost Richard Howard stood in the smoking ruins of St Michael’s Cathedral and set the course for the future of Coventry as a beacon of hope.
Over the burning city
the bomb forgot its incandescent rage
revised its mission of atrocity
became a baby
About Talking Birds
Theatre company Talking Birds was formed in Coventry in 1992 and has a long track-record of marking significant moments in City life - from millennium eve, to the National Holocaust Memorial Day event in 2009, to the Olympic Torch Relay arrival in 2012; from We Love You City at the Belgrade Theatre to the UK’s first Citizen’s Assembly on Arts & Culture. It Takes a City is the latest of many pieces of original music and performance made in collaboration with Coventry Cathedral. www.talkingbirds.co.uk
Supported by Arts Council, England.
Performance details
Saturday 15th November
12.30pm - Preview Performance - Tickets £4 (£2 concession for under 18s, f/t students, retired or in receipt of benefits)
3pm Performance - Tickets £8 (£4 concessions) - includes post-show discussion & refreshments
Enter Ruins via St Michael's Tower (doors open 15 mins before performance time).
Note: the performance starts in the Ruins and moves into the New Cathedral so please come suitably dressed for the weather. This is a promenade (unseated) performance but seating will be available for those who need it. Please contact email hidden; JavaScript is required if you have any specific access requirements you would like to let us know about.
Captions (sub-titles) will be available on your Mobile device via the Difference Engine [link]: https://differenceengine.talkingbirds.co.uk/audience/ If you'd like to borrow a device please contact us.
Contains themes of war/conflict (age guidance 10+ at parent/carer's discretion; children must be accompanied by an adult).
