The history of quilting is profoundly associated with ancient cultures and woman's creativity. One theory links this art to the slaves, who created quilts coded with patterns, to help one another flee to freedom.

The Live Literature Company were proud to present this performance in conjunction with the season of events commemorating the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade in Britain at the National Portrait Gallery on 29th March 2007.

Tickets were free on a first come first served basis.

To find out more about the secret language of Quilts, click on the article below 

Written and directed by Valerie Doulton,'THE QUILT'  was presented as a fully staged read performance.

Cast: Yvonne Bonnamy & Jean Heywood (Please note that the photographs here feature Yvonne Bonnamy and Lala Lloyd who originally created the part).

Music: Beim Schlafengehen by Richard Strauss, Sung on recording by: Jessye Norman