The City Speaks

Available for over a year

At the estuary's edge, where the city meets the mouth of the Humber River, actor Laura Elsworthy joins acclaimed artist Michael Pinsky next to his gigantic interactive artwork. 'The City Speaks' uses voice recognition software to captures the public's words and transcribes them into huge text. The speaker can then watch their words scroll twenty metres overhead across the Humber's tidal surge barrier. Michael wanted to create a platform for the city to raise its voice, but to do that, first it has to 'learn' Hullensian. Laura tests out some of her best Hull slang into the artwork. In this programme Laura premieres her response to Pinsky's artwork, a monologue in which she reflects upon growing up in Hull. Laura remembers people telling her she would never make it as an actor with an accent, especially from somewhere so disconnected and remote. Joined by some of Hull's heroes and artists; Jean Bishop aka The Bee Lady, Yvonne Blenkinsop, the last of the 'Headscarf Revolutionaries', and the award winning young playwright Tom Wells, Laura discovers why being from Hull has made her the unique and determined actor she is today. Presenter: Laura Elsworthy Producer: Claire Press.