Sunday 1 October
10:00 - 17:00, Dame Alice Owen, Angel
Day 2 -
Sunday 1 October
Speakers
Desree
Desree is a spoken word artist, writer, facilitator, and producer based in London and Slough.
An advocate for community arts and youth projects, Desree began a night called #OMN in 2014 and is Artist in Residence for poetry collective EMPOWORD, both in Slough.
She has featured at events all over the UK and internationally, including Glastonbury Festival 2019, Bowery Poetry Club New York and Royal Albert Hall. She was Poet in Residence for Glastonbury 2022.
Desree will be performing a series of her poems live and delivering a creative writing workshop.
Daniel Harding
Having worked for over 10 years within news, broadcast and features, Daniel has consistently presented on subjects that he is passionate about, including mental health, sex and the LGBTQ+ community.
His debut book, Gay Man Talking - All the conversations we never had, looks to encourage acceptance, communication and challenge stereotypes inside and outside of the community.
He’ll be discussing the trope of the gay best friend and how feminism can offer the LGBTQ+ community.
Beyond the Streets
Beyond the Streets are a UK charity which supports women who have been or are involved in selling sex with anything from unpacking trauma to helping with housing and finances.
They have a dedicated team researching violence against women which underpins their training sessions aimed at better equipping statutory and third sector professionals to engage with and support women involved in selling sex.
Beyond the Streets also run an alternative walking tour in the East End which looks at the lives of the women killed by Jack the Ripper and the link between them and the women in the area today facing centuries old stigma, victim blaming, and multiple disadvantage.
Ilona Bannister
Ilona Bannister is the author of When I Ran Away and Little Prisons and was South London Feminist Book Club’s first author special.
She has written for Stylist, The Guardian, and Lit Hub and has been featured on National Public Radio.
She was a dual qualified US attorney and UK solicitor practicing immigration law before she started writing fiction. Ilona has lived in the UK with her husband and young sons for 15 years, and although she loves London, she will always be a New Yorker at heart.
Holly McComish
Holly McComish is an author, producer and women's health ambassador from East London.
After suffering a stroke at the age of 25 due to the combined contraceptive pill, she published a poetry book, If Tits Could Talk, which raises awareness around women's health issues.
Holly's work was discovered and platformed by world renowned poet Rupi Kaur. She will be performing poems from her book live at the festival and opening up a forum to discuss women's health.
Beth Steel
Beth Steel is an award-winning playwright and screen writer. Her first play Ditch premiered at the HighTide Festival before transferring to the Old Vic Tunnels.
Her second play, Wonderland, was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and won her Most Promising Playwright at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards. Other plays include Labyrinth at the Hampstead Theatre and The House of Shades, also a Susan Smith Blackburn finalist, at the Almeida Theatre. She was writer in residence at the National Theatre and her next play, Till The Stars Come Down, premieres at the National Theatre in January 2024.
Stalls
Herne Hill Books and Clapham Books
We are over the moon to announce that both Herne Hill Books and Clapham Books will have a stall at our festival!
This means that once you have heard our panelists speak, you can head to the market section of the festival and purchase a copy of their book - you may even be able to get them to sign it for you whilst they are there!
She Made It
Alongside Herne Hill Books and Clapham Books, She Made It will also be there! Their boxes are filled with:
An inspiring piece of female written literature
At least five carefully selected products curated by female run businesses
A little extra surprise
Beyond the Streets
Our charity partner of the year will also be having a stall at our festival! At their stall you will be able to find out about all of the services they offer to support women who wish to safely exit selling sex.
Come along, find out more about our charity partner and enjoy a great day!