Writer Polly Coles reads Tinseltown, the second of her essays about some of the ways in which Venetians and others have adapted to live in 21st-century Venice - one of the most acclaimed cities in the world. Moving to Venice with her family for several years gave her a resident's view of a city she loves and despairs of in equal measure. Once the most cosmopolitan city in Europe, nowadays it seems little more than a stage-set for the tourist industry. But Venice will always be more than the most idealized city in the world.

In this edition, Polly looks at the impact of celebrity on Venice, suggesting it's a familiar phenomenon for Venetians down the centuries.

Written and performed by Polly Coles
Producer: Melanie Harris Sparklab Productions. Show less