Living Literature is a new series of events from the School of Advanced Study, University of London, bringing an iconic literary work to life by using research expertise to shape an audience’s experience.
Based on the model of immersive theatre, these events break down the barriers between audience and academic, and between audience and novel, by creating dynamic, participatory avenues for audiences to discover key ideas, themes, histories, and contexts. Moving beyond the idea of an audience passively listening to a single expert, these multidisciplinary, experiential, dynamic, educational experiences will immerse audiences in the world and ideas of the chosen theme.
In 2016, the series launched with ‘Living Gatsby‘ and brought the world of New York in 1922 to life. Using the idea of the party as a medium for understanding ‘The Great Gatsby’, specialists offered expert guidance into the novel and its historical context.
For 2017, Living Proust focused on the author’s work ‘In Search of Lost Time‘, evoking the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Paris at the turn of the century in an immersive recreation of the belle époque.
2018 was the year of ‘Living Frankenstein‘ with Mary Shelley’s gothic novel being brought to life through sensory experiments, beatboxing, stories by candlelight and many other creepily creative activities.
Living Literature will be taking a year off in 2019, but watch this space for future news on exciting events.