Books

Inspired by their day at the Institute of Dreams, the award winning BattleActs! (Independent on Saturday's Top Ten Comedy Show) will split into two teams of fearless improvisers to amuse and amaze. Known for sell-out shows at Edinburgh Festival, BattleActs! have been spotted at The Accidental Festival, The Old Vic…

Discover how people lived in the past, looking back at the history of food, encampments, the role of horses, battle tactics and dance from the 12th century to now.

Audrey Niffenegger, bestselling author of 'The Time Traveller's Wife' and 'Her Fearful Symmetry', comes to Southbank Centre to discuss her life as a writer and an artist. She also introduces her latest work, 'The Raven Girl'. This dark and gripping illustrated fairy tale is now being brought to life in a ballet written…

A talk on the philosophical aspects of autobiography, with the speakers Professor Ray Monk and Professor Stephen Mulhall.

After taking a look at the characters from his book Bagpipes, Beasties and Bogles, the children's author and illustrator leads a session of storytelling and drawing. Ages 5–8.

An afternoon with respected author Bali Rai, who gives advice on how to find confidence, how to find a voice and how to use personal experiences to create vibrant settings and great characters for any story.

Barbara Kingsolver's works of fiction, poetry and non-fiction include the international bestseller 'The Poisonwood Bible' and 'The Lacuna', winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction. At this event she discusses her latest novel, 'Flight Behaviour', a captivating and topical story of class, poverty and climate change.

The author talks to Professor John Mullan about her 1998 novel, The Poisonwood Bible.

Independent curator Roscoe explores the Wonderful World Of Rodney Pepp.

The researcher, artist-filmmaker and curator talks about artist Robert Filliou's Whispered History Of Art and how it is linked to the shifting views surrounding art's antiquity.

Stories and songs performed in a traditional bardic style.

A short insight into a painting by Batoni.

Learn about the world of bats and wildwood ecology. Meet bat specialist Richard Crompton.

The 14 Livingstone fruit bats live together in a custom built enclosure with a large walk-through, free-flight aviary. Supported by Airbus.

A discussion of Stravinsky's The Rite Of Spring, one of several events commemorating the 100th anniversary of its riotous premiere

A programme of talks and discussions aimed at Consultant or Trainee Cardiologists.

Author Michael Pick discusses the long career of the fashion personality, who created the 1947 wedding gown of Princess Elizabeth and subsequently dressed her when she became Queen.

Stuart Bowden's metaphorical exploration of the world of the beast, combining DIY storytelling and lo-fi music.

A gallery talk by curator Frances Willis about the exhibition of the writer's illustrations and the clothes that inspired her.

Peter Tasker gives an insight into the Hill Top area. Tour the Tatton Park gardens and take afternoon tea.

John Burnside reads from Melissographia - a sequence of poems scattered with embossed, hand-painted, pollen maps. This is his long-standing collaboration with artist Amy Shelton. He also reads Bee Myths, a new work which reflects on the role of bees in the evolution of myth, husbandry, cultivation and healing. Sean…

Learn about flowers from the gardens, take part in the interactive story of a bee, create your own musical bee instrument and enjoy stories, sound and music from the flower garden.

A neuroscientist and a designer describe the many ways that bees inspire them in their work and everyday lives. Richard Clarke is director of Beautiful Mind at Lottolab, a hybrid Neuroscience/design studio. Clarke has developed a model system for visual processing. He has published work on how brains create meaning…