2025 Festival Event

4:35 am
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Laurie Bristow

Kabul: Final Call

Sir Laurie Bristow was the last British Ambassador to Afghanistan and one of the last civilians to leave Kabul in August 2021. Everyone watched the events unfold in Afghanistan with horror as western military forces withdrew and the Taliban recaptured political power. In conversation with award-winning Afghan journalist Zahra Joya, Laurie Bristow discusses those last days, the emergency evacuation of 15,000 vulnerable Afghans to safety and life in Afghanistan today. Kabul – Final Call analyses the causes, meaning and human cost for everyone involved.

Zahra Joya

Award-winning Afghan journalist Zahra Joya is highly regarded for her far-reaching reportage of the women and children living in Afghanistan today.

Tickets cost £12 / £18 / £20 depending on the event.
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Other events on the same day

4:35 am

Emily Howes -

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2:00 pm

Renaissance Women -

Roxanna Panufnik, Rachel Morris and Daisy Dunn

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2:00 pm

Tomiwa Owolade -

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4:00 pm

Nigel Biggar -

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4:00 pm

Gill Johnson -

Love From Venice

Gill Johnson discusses her memoir, which recaptures the lavish opulence of Venice during the 1950s and her time there as a young woman, in conversation with journalist Rory Ross.

6:00 pm

Miriam Margolyes -

Oh Miriam!

Miriam Margolyes discusses her memoir 'Oh Miriam!' with fellow actress Patricia Hodge and shares all sorts of stories – both published and unpublished.

8:00 pm

Laura Cumming -

Thunderclap

Art critic Laura Cumming discusses her book 'Thunderclap', a memoir about a life in art, a father and daughter and the great artists of the Dutch Golden Age.

2025 Festival Schedule

SUN – 21 SEPT 2025

4pm

6pm

10.00am

11.30am

12n

2pm

4pm

6pm

12n

2pm

4pm

6pm

ST MARY’S BARNES

MICHAEL HESELTINE

A printed festival programme is available at the Barnes Bookshop, 98 Church Road.