Benedict Cumberbatch, James Corden, and Toby Jones took to the stage for a special edition of the literary event, celebrating letters written at sea in support of The King’s Trust.

Last month, remarkable letters were brought to life by an all-star cast of readers at Letters Live hosted at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, in partnership with luxury British cruise line, Cunard. Several high-profile performers such as Jude Law and Stephen Fry have taken the stage since the event’s inception back in 2013, helping it become one of the UK’s must-see shows of the enduring power of literary correspondence. 

This time around, the event supported The King’s Trust, with all profits from ticket sales donated, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The collaboration with Cunard was a celebration of sea voyages and the exclusive sanctuaries of Cunard’s Grill Suites. It also drew inspiration from the calmness of sea travel and the human need to reflect, write and stay connected during journeys across the ocean. 

Readings ranged from a letter recounting the story of an English sailor who remade himself as a notorious pirate to a British explorer who had been beaten to the punch by a Norwegian explorer on reaching the Pole. The night also saw Cunard’s very own Captain Aseem Hashmi read a historical letter penned by  King George VI to Winston Churchill before the D-Day landings, as concerns grew amongst the establishment of Churchill’s risky plans to set foot on the French coast. 

The night’s stars were kept under wraps until they revealed themselves onstage, guests were thrilled to find the line-up on the night consisting of big hitters like Benedict Cumberbatch, James Corden, Toby Jones, Damian Lewis, Dominic West, Dame Meera Syal and Dame Harriet Walter. 

Letters Live’s co-producer Shaun Usher offered: “Letter-writing asks us to slow down, to take time to pause, reflect, and choose words with care.” It’s something we don’t get to do much in this chaotic and digitally-dominated world, with the project offering a much-needed change of pace and an important reminder of the power of the letter. Much like the letter-writing, the Cunard Grill suite offers similar sensibilities, providing room for creativity and reflection with the calmness of the ocean as a backdrop.  

To find out more about Cunard’s Grill Suites, head to cunard.com