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Talks & debates

Overview Calendar

Thursday 22 August

Una Marson Celebration
A flag in a park reads \

Una Marson Celebration

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Tickets From £7.00

Friday 30 August

Matt Haig: The Life Impossible
Matt Haig wearing a white t shirt in a wood

Matt Haig: The Life Impossible

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as British sign language interpreted (BSL) Speech to text
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £15.00

Wednesday 11 September

David McWilliams: Money

David McWilliams: Money

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00

Thursday 12 September

Diane Abbott: A Woman Like Me
Woman in a black coat and blue scarf looks into the distance.

Diane Abbott: A Woman Like Me

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00

Sunday 29 September

Notes on Nature 1: The Sea
A submerged orca with fin visible, in a sea with a backdrop of snowy mountains

Notes on Nature 1: The Sea

Classical music
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets Free
Sold out

Thursday 3 October

10 Years of Serial: An Evening with Sarah Koenig
Sarah Koenig sits in front of a red background wearing a grey top

10 Years of Serial: An Evening with Sarah Koenig

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as British sign language interpreted (BSL) Speech to text
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £25.00

Wednesday 23 October

Wasafiri: New Writing Prize 2024
Various editions of Wasafiri magazines are displayed in stacks on a wooden table.

Wasafiri: New Writing Prize 2024

Literature & poetry
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £10.00
Jordan Stephens: Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak and Dogs
Jordan Stephens against a grey wall wearing a grey jacket and black baseball cap

Jordan Stephens: Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak and Dogs

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £15.00
Debut London Literature
Woman in a grey vest top stands in front of a wall in a garden.

Debut London Literature

Literature & poetry
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £12.00

Thursday 24 October

Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream
A woman with short blond hair wearing a black shirt and a white pearl necklace

Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters
Deborah Levy sits in front of a curtain and rests her head on her hand.

Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £15.00
Book Now

Last few tickets

Friday 25 October

Alan Hollinghurst: Our Evenings
Writer Alan Hollinghurst wears rectangular glasses and looks into the camera

Alan Hollinghurst: Our Evenings

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00
Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream
A woman with short blond hair wearing a black shirt and a white pearl necklace

Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Somali Week: Trailblazing Women Poets
Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf standing at a microphone, clicking her fingers.

Somali Week: Trailblazing Women Poets

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £12.00

Saturday 26 October

Robert Macfarlane: The World to Come
Robert Macfarlane stands against stone background wearing a navy blue coat

Robert Macfarlane: The World to Come

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as British sign language interpreted (BSL)
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00
Lindsey Hilsum: I Brought the War with Me
Lindsey Hilsum stands against a pink background wearing a green jumper and scarf.

Lindsey Hilsum: I Brought the War with Me

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £15.00
Danez Smith: Bluff
Danez Smith wearing an orange shirt against a white background.

Danez Smith: Bluff

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £12.00
Susanna Clarke: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Woman in a brown jacket stands by a wall in a field.

Susanna Clarke: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00
Helen Charman & Marianne Brooker: Maternal Lines
Helen Charman (left) is wearing a blue jumper, Marianne Brooker (right) is wearing a white shirt and brown glasses

Helen Charman & Marianne Brooker: Maternal Lines

Literature & poetry
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £12.00
The People’s Favourite Poets
Lemn Sissay smiling and wearing a blue jumper against a black background.

The People’s Favourite Poets

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £15.00
Rupert Everett: The American No
Rupert Everett sits in a dark room, leaning forward and wearing a navy blazer.

Rupert Everett: The American No

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00
Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream
A young woman with long brown hair in a wheelchair is speaking into a microphone on stage

Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Creative Future Writers' Awards Showcase
Woman sitting in audience leaning forward and listening.

Creative Future Writers' Awards Showcase

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £5.00
Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream
A woman with short blond hair wearing a black shirt and a white pearl necklace

Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free

Sunday 27 October

Creative Future Writers' Day
Three speakers sitting onstage at Southbank Centre, engaging in a discussion.

Creative Future Writers' Day

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Purcell Room
Free
Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream
A panel of writers talk to the crowd at the creative future writers awards

Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Florence Given: Women Living Deliciously
Writer Florence Given wears a fur coat in front of a pink background that matches her hair.

Florence Given: Women Living Deliciously

Talks & debates
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00
Notes on Nature 2: The Forest

Notes on Nature 2: The Forest

Classical music
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets Free
Sold out
And Other Stories Book Club: Hanne Ørstavik
Writer Hanne Ørstavik has blue eyes and short white curly hair and looks off camera to the right

And Other Stories Book Club: Hanne Ørstavik

Literature & poetry
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £22.00
An Evening with Richard Dawkins and Friends
Richard Dawkins wears a blue suit sitting in front of a bookshelf

An Evening with Richard Dawkins and Friends

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as British sign language interpreted (BSL) Speech to text
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £25.00
London Living
Kieran is photographed sitting on some steps outside of a house. She has long dark hair and laughs while looking slightly off right of camera.

London Living

Literature & poetry
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £12.00
Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream
A young woman with long brown hair in a wheelchair is speaking into a microphone on stage

Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream
A woman with short blond hair wearing a black shirt and a white pearl necklace

Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
New Poets Collective Showcase

New Poets Collective Showcase

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £5.00

Monday 28 October

Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream
A panel of writers talk to the crowd at the creative future writers awards

Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream
A young woman with long brown hair in a wheelchair is speaking into a microphone on stage

Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream
A woman with short blond hair wearing a black shirt and a white pearl necklace

Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free

Tuesday 29 October

Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream
A panel of writers talk to the crowd at the creative future writers awards

Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream
A young woman with long brown hair in a wheelchair is speaking into a microphone on stage

Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream
A woman with short blond hair wearing a black shirt and a white pearl necklace

Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free

Wednesday 30 October

Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream
A panel of writers talk to the crowd at the creative future writers awards

Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream
A young woman with long brown hair in a wheelchair is speaking into a microphone on stage

Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Taffy Brodesser-Akner: Long Island Compromise
Writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner sits on a blue chair

Taffy Brodesser-Akner: Long Island Compromise

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00
Black Arsenal
Former and current Arsenal footballera Ian Wright and Bukayo Saka sit back to back in the club changing room.

Black Arsenal

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £15.00
Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream
A woman with short blond hair wearing a black shirt and a white pearl necklace

Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
DH Lawrence Celebration
Pencil drawing of a squirrel clinging to a tree.

DH Lawrence Celebration

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Tickets From £7.00

Thursday 31 October

Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream
A panel of writers talk to the crowd at the creative future writers awards

Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Kiran Millwood Hargrave: Geomancer Trilogy
Kiran Millwood Hargrave stands in a natural scene wearing a flowery dress and smiles at the camera.

Kiran Millwood Hargrave: Geomancer Trilogy

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £10.00
Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream
A young woman with long brown hair in a wheelchair is speaking into a microphone on stage

Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Hanif Kureishi: Shattered
Hanif Kureishi wearing a blue jumper standing against a leafy background.

Hanif Kureishi: Shattered

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00
Hanif Kureishi: Shattered – Live Stream
Writer Hanif Kureishi wears a blue shirt and looks pensively into the camera.

Hanif Kureishi: Shattered – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream
A woman with short blond hair wearing a black shirt and a white pearl necklace

Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Ekow Eshun: The Strangers
Writer and Curator Ekow Eshun wears a blue suit jacket and sits in front of a white background.

Ekow Eshun: The Strangers

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £15.00

Friday 1 November

Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream
A panel of writers talk to the crowd at the creative future writers awards

Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Hanif Kureishi: Shattered – Live Stream
Writer Hanif Kureishi wears a blue shirt and looks pensively into the camera.

Hanif Kureishi: Shattered – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock: Webb's Universe
Headshot of a woman in a red shirt looking directly into camera.

Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock: Webb's Universe

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00
Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream
A young woman with long brown hair in a wheelchair is speaking into a microphone on stage

Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Hidden Tracks
A performer wearing a suit stands on a wooden stage speaking into a microphone to a large audience

Hidden Tracks

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as British sign language interpreted (BSL)
Purcell Room
Tickets From £12.00

Saturday 2 November

Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream
A panel of writers talk to the crowd at the creative future writers awards

Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream
A young woman with long brown hair in a wheelchair is speaking into a microphone on stage

Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
1 2

Whilst you’re with us

Modified Social Benches

Modified Social Benches

Benches that challenge the space and distance we place between one another.

Crazy Boules
A close up shot of the boules by the 'jack'

Crazy Boules

The classic French game gets a neon-spangled makeover.

Southbank Centre Food Market
Mango chutney being added to a wrap at La Sani

Southbank Centre Food Market

With a huge choice of street food and drinks, our weekly food market is a must-visit.

Ground & Sound
Gardener Paul Pulford listening to Ground and Sound in the Roof Garden

Ground & Sound

Experience an enchanting musical score in our very own secret garden.

Shopping
A variety of Block Scene merchandise on sale at the Royal Festival Hall shop including colourful printed t-shirts, mugs and tea towels.

Shopping

A vibrant range of inspiring books, homeware, prints, accessories and more.

Klaus Weber: Thinking Fountains

Thinking
Fountains

Water cascades and spouts over Klaus Weber’s bronze figures.

William Pye's Zemran
A photograph showing Riverside Terrace at Southbank Centre, with the metal sculpture Zemran in the foreground, next to Queen Elizabeth Hall

William Pye's Zemran

Pye’s beautiful stainless steel sculpture sits overlooking the Thames.

Natura Nostra Forest

Natura Nostra Forest

Our growing pocket forest creating a natural oasis.