Five cultural connoisseurs – household names – served up food for thought.
Each of the diverse digestifs was an inspiring example of what can be achieved with intention: each lasted only 15 minutes, yet conveyed more than a sample of the dedication each speaker has shown to their chosen subject.
Colin Thubron, luminous travel writer, engaged the audience at once with an erudite and fascinating account of ritual associated with Tibetan sky burials.
Lemn Sissay’s poetic insight into growing up fostered (“no one knew me for longer than a year, ever”) was all the more memorable for its climactic revelation of his discovery at the age of majority that years previous his Ethiopian birth mother had requested he be returned to his roots.
Singer Lucinda Belle turned heads in her flamenco-esque dress of frothy baby pink frills beneath charcoal lace, her voice and harp competing for splendour.
Rebecca Frayn’s research into the life of Aung San Suu Kyi was timely and revelatory.
As a grand finale, William Fiennes read poems written by disadvantaged pupils upon whom he, creative writing tutor, impressed the value of expressing their unique voice.
This concoction, at times interesting, informative, intelligent, affirming, moving, and surprising, made for a wonderful event.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here