A wide cross-section of performers – including myself – joined forces with Colin Firth recently for a unique stage performance and documentary film celebrating moments in UK history when ordinary people have spoken out for change. This is a UK edition of THE PEOPLE SPEAK and was directed by Anthony Arnove. Anthony co-founded the original US project of this name, inspired by Howard Zinn’s groundbreaking books “A People’s History of the United States” and “Voices of a People’s History of the United States.” This new UK film will be broadcast on the History channel on Sunday October 31 at 9pm.
The artists who performed at the Prince of Wales Theatre in September and will appear in the documentary are:
Anna Chancellor
Anna Chancellor
Arundhati Roy
Sir Ben Kingsley
Benjamin Zephaniah
Celia Imrie
Colin Firth
Colin Salmon
Ian McKellen
John Castle
Joss Stone
Juliet Stevenson
Kelly Macdonald
Kiera Knightley
Laura Marling
Mark Steel
Mark Strong
Noel Clarke
Nonso Anozie
Omid Djalili
Owen Teale
Rupert Everett
Saffron Burrows
Stephen Rea
Teddy Thompson
The Unthanks
Tom Hickey
Tom Robinson
“To me THE PEOPLE SPEAK is the perfect response to the abject misery of my history class as a schoolboy” says Colin. “Considering the immense riches that history offers us in terms of the best and worst of human behaviour – corruption, sexual deviation, rebellion, struggles for power – none of that made it into my history lessons. There is absolutely no reason why history should be dry and I’m delighted to be working with HISTORY on an initiative that takes history beyond the classroom; democratising our own legacy and providing a unique voice that resonates as much today as it did when it was first spoken.”
For more information and video clips from the programme see: history.co.uk/the-people-speak
