Joelle Taylor: The Night Alphabet
Joelle Taylor performs a staged reading from her debut novel The Night Alphabet, directed by Neil Bartlett and hosted by Russell Tovey.
Hackney, 2233: a woman walks into a tattoo parlour. Her body is covered all over with tattoos, but she wants to add one final inking to her gallery – a thin line connecting the haunting images of her body art together. If you follow this strand, what narrative do these images tell you?
This event is the world premiere of this performance by Taylor.
The Night Alphabet is set across geographies and timespans, replete with literary fireworks. It is a furious, gripping, dazzlingly original novel and a deep and bold investigation into violence, resilience and women’s stories. It is published by Riverrun in February 2024.
Joelle Taylor is the author of four collections of poetry. Her most recent, C+NTO & Othered Poems, won the 2021 TS Eliot Prize, the 2022 Polari Book Prize for LGBT authors, and is currently being adapted for the theatre.
Russell Tovey is an actor and co-host of the Talk Art podcast.
Neil Bartlett has made theatre everywhere from the Royal Vauxhall Tavern to the National Theatre. His recent stage work includes Orlando in the West End with Emma Corrin and a live version of Derek Jarman’s film Blue at the Tate Gallery, with Russell Tovey, Travis Alabanza and Joelle Taylor. His most recent novel, Address Book, was nominated for the Polari Prize.
Need to know
For ages 18+
Copies of The Night Alphabet by Joelle Taylor are available as an optional add on at point of purchase for the reduced price of £14.99 (RRP £18.99).
Contains references to topics that some may find disturbing.
Dates & times
Price
- Standard entryFrom £15*
- Concessions25%**
* Excludes £3.50 booking fee.
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** Limited availability. Read about concessions.
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Venue
Queen Elizabeth Hall
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More information
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