Event By English PEN. July 9th 2009.

Breaking Through the Silence.   The event takes place on 9th July at 7.30pm, at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster.  In collaboration with the John Armitage Memorial Trust, we will be presenting an evening of music and spoken word, in honour of persecuted writers worldwide.  
 
Acclaimed conductor Nicholas Cleobury will conduct the Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge, as they perform Michael Tippett’s Five Negro Spirituals, Adam Gorb’s Thoughts Scribbled on a Blank Wall (words by former hostage John McCarthy) and Timothy Jackson’s No Answer (words by Chris Abani) which was commissioned by English PEN in 2002.
 
Alongside the music, a group of special guests including Ruth Padel, Jo Brand, Reece Shearsmith and Clarissa Dickson-Wright, will be reading work of persecuted Burmese writers, including Aung San Suu Kyi and Zargana.  Award-winning playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker will give the keynote address.
 
The evening will be an extremely powerful and moving event.  It is also an opportunity to show your solidarity and support for Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently being subjected to a show trial in Burma.
 
How to Book

Tickets cost £20/£15.  They are available online at www.englishpen.org/events .  Alternatively, you can call the PEN office on 020 7324 2535, where a member of staff will be delighted to set aside tickets on your behalf.