Southbank Centre's Summer 2023 Literature and Spoken Word Season
Southbank Centre's Summer 2023 Literature and Spoken Word Season returns from June - October 2023 with conversations featuring acclaimed authors, thinkers, and poets.

Image: Queen Elizbeth Hall. Photo byIndia Roper Evans.
The Southbank Centre's Summer 2023 Literature and Spoken Word Season is in full swing, offering an impressive lineup of authors, economists, politicians, and poets from June to October. This ongoing festival brings together renowned names like Yomi Adegoke, Julian Barnes, Zadie Smith, and Colson Whitehead, who share their latest thought-provoking novels, tackling issues like abuse of power, politics of race, and the impact of new technologies.

Image: Zadie Smith. Photo by Ben Bailey Smith.
There is an exceptional lineup of talks and discussions in the upcoming months. Notable highlights include Yanis Varoufakis launching his groundbreaking book on economics, capitalism, and inequality, while former UK Prime Minister Theresa May engages in insightful discussions about her latest work, Abuse of Power – a searing exposé of injustice and a compelling call to exercise power for the greater good. The program also features an evening with the writers of the hit show Succession, and a conversation with Arlo Parks, the Mercury Prize-winning musician and poet, as she unveils her debut book, The Magic Border. Moreover, visionary performance artist Marina Abramovic and author Katya Tylevich will engage in an intriguing discussion about their new collaboration, Marina Abramovic: A Visual Biography.

Image: Theresa May. Photo by Rory Lewis
The National Poetry Library enriches the festival with explorations of autism and poetry, alongside celebrating emerging poets with Hong Kong connections. Moreover, Out-Spoken's monthly residency showcases exceptional spoken word artists. With a diverse lineup and important discussions, the Southbank Centre's Literature and Spoken Word Season continues to inspire and ignite meaningful conversations. The festival runs concurrently with the Planet Summer program, featuring events with prominent figures like Greta Thunberg, Mark Carney, Mikaela Loach, and Tori Tsui. Luckily, there is still plenty of time to get involved in these cultural feasts.
Date: June - October 2023. Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX. Click here for the full programme of events.
Robyn Orlin had her first encounter with the rickshaw drivers of Durban at the young age of five or six, an experience that left such a deep impression on her that she later sought to learn more about their fate. Rickshaws were first introduced to Durban in 1892…
Things are not going well for the protagonist of KAREN. The show opens as she is unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend of four years, Joe, on a birthday trip to Alton Towers. Unexpected heartbreak as she’s halfway through eating a calippo and dressed in a pac-a-mac is just the beginning - as Joe starts dating her office nemesis, Karen…
TOZI, derived from the affectionate Venetian slang for “a close-knit group of friends,” is the brainchild of an Italian trio that met while opening Shoreditch House under the Soho House Group. In 2013, Chef Maurilio Molteni, fresh from his time as Head Chef at Shoreditch House and developing the menu at Cecconi’s, opened the first TOZI restaurant in London…
Pioneering choreographer Merce Cunningham’s work will “forever” be revered. The Van Cleef & Arpels Dance Reflections festival has brought two of his works back to life performed by the Lyon Opera Ballet at Sadlers’ Wells…
Multitudes at Southbank Centre will reimagine live music through bold collaborations across dance, theatre, and visual arts…
Multitudes Festival · Ed Atkins, Tate Britain · Brick Lane Jazz Festival · Teatro La Plaza’s Hamlet · Holly Blakey: A Wound with Teeth & Phantom · Roof East · Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival 2025 · London Marathon 2025 · ROOH – Within Her · Sultan Stevenson Presents El Roi · Carmen at The Royal Opera House · The Big Egg Hunt 2025 · Architecture on Stage: New Architects · The Friends of Holland Park Annual Art Exhibition 2025
Born in 1937 in what is now West Bengal, Arpita Singh is one of India’s pioneering post-independence artists. Remembering marks her first institutional solo exhibition outside India, featuring key works from her prolific six-decade long career…
Tate Modern’s 25th anniversary will be marked with a free four-day celebration in May 2025, featuring art displays, live performances, music, workshops, and family activities….
Autumn 2025 will bring two exciting exhibitions to the Barbican: ‘Dirty Looks’, a bold fashion exhibition exploring imperfection and decay, and an innovative art installation by Lucy Raven in The Curve…
The Hippodrome is one of Europe’s and the UK’s most storied buildings and gaming venues. Not just gaming, but an entertainment venue in general. It has a long history that stretches back over a century and remains a popular tourist and local attraction to this day…
There were two compelling reasons to attend this performance: the venue itself and the cutting-edge artist collective known as (LA) HORDE. Sadler’s Wells’ newest state-of-the-art venue is a welcome addition to Stratford, boasting rehearsal studios…
The lights come up on a pseudo-court room scene: a table jostling with microphones, a jug of water and an uncomfortable looking metal fold out chair are exposed by an interrogative spotlight…
In a bustling city like London, where noise pollution is common, achieving clear and immersive sound at home can be challenging. Speaker stands help create an optimal listening experience by positioning your speakers at the perfect height and angle…
Robyn Orlin: We wear our wheels with pride · Architecture on Stage: Lütjens Padmanabhan · Jay Bernard: Joint · Black is the Color of My Voice · Joe Webb Trio · Rhodri Davies at Cafe OTO · Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award 2025 · Lyon Opera Ballet: Cunningham Forever · AVA London · Sister Midnight · Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo · Eunjo Lee · Arpita Singh: Remembering · Fiona Banner aka The Vanity Press: Disarm · Bunhead Bakery · Time & Talents
Gabriele Beveridge is known for her sculptural and conceptual practice that combines materials as diverse as hand-blown glass, photo chemicals, and found images…
Looking for something truly special this Mother’s Day? There are a variety of unique gifts and experiences to take advantage of in London, whether your mother loves exploring world-class art galleries and museum exhibitions, wandering through historic homes filled with fascinating stories and remarkable collections, indulging in a luxurious spa treatment, or enjoying an unforgettable dining experience..
After 18 successful years at Edinburgh Fringe, The Big Bite Size Show arrives in London for the first time at The Pleasance Theatre, no less. A gem of a place for fringe theatre in London…
The legacy company of the pioneering American choreographer Trisha Brown opened the Van Cleef & Arpels Dance Reflections Festival at Sadler’s Wells with a striking performance…
