London Can’t Make Up Its Mind

Did you know The Shard used to be made entirely from sausages? And that the London Eye is an interdimensional portal?

These are just some of the remarkable facts* our young writers, aged 6-15, unearthed this summer whilst making three alternative audio tours. We gave our Community Writing Labs the challenge of creating material themed around London landmarks that would surprise, entertain and amuse listeners. Over the course of a term, we wrote poetry in the voices of famous monuments, shifted our points of view – bird’s eye, worm’s eye and everything in between – and did some diligent research and fact checking** to cram our scripts with never-heard-before*** nuggets of information.

Gathering the work together, we found it fitted beautifully into three broad themes. Each audio tour features writers from across the age range, with the groups also helping to create the framing devices and links. Every member of our writing labs played an important part in making the scripts what they are. 

In July, we took four professional voice actors to East London Arts and Music and worked alongside some of their trainees to record the pieces. The actors had fun playing with the brilliant characters, jokes, surreal and sincere moments that our young writers had created for them. The final audio pieces have been skilfully produced by Matt Hill at Rethink Audio. We’re so excited to share these with you; London as you’ve never encountered it before. So find a cosy nook, a bench next to a spy on the Southbank or make your way to the top of a skyscraper, press play and enjoy!

We’re proud to present: 

• A Better London: Welcome to Monster Town. It’s almost unheard of for human radios to find the frequency of Frankenstein’s radio station, so here’s a rare glimpse into the goings on in Monster Town, London’s distorted reflection. 

• London Can’t Make Up Its Mind. Join us on a poetry adventure through the streets (and skies) of London. Visit landmarks, stop a while in nature and hear our young writer’s hopes for their city. 

• A Completely Accurate and Totally True London Tour. Which is (obviously) all of these things. But in case you were wondering, there are no refunds. You won’t get your money or your life back. This is going to be so fun.

*Kind of.

**Not strictly true. 

*** True! Though there might be a reason they’ve not been heard before.

Credits: 

• Written by young writers from our Community Writing Labs, supported by our volunteer mentors. 
• The scripts were edited by Mayo Agard-Olubo, Jennifer Claessen and Jessica Randall, performed by Gem Carmela Ahmet, Dorothy Cotter, Adam Courting and Monica Gaga and produced by Matt Hill at Rethink Audio. 
• With thanks to East London Arts and Music and their trainees: Ben Harvey, CeeLdn, Félix Ruiz Gsottberger and Jehu Adora. 
• Thanks also to Arts Council England, City Bridge Foundation, the Violence Reduction Unit of the Mayor’s Office, and the Lightbulb Trust for their generous support.