POLARI SALON: PAUL BURSTON, JOELLE TAYLOR AND MISS HOPE SPRINGS

London’s award-winning literary salon comes to Bath for the very first time.

Inspired by the gay slang of the same name, Polari is a celebration of LGBTQ+ words and voices – whether written, spoken or sung. Your host, and Polari Salon founder, Paul Burston kicks off the evening with his first public reading from We Can Be Heroes, a memoir about his personal journey from prejudice to Pride – before handing over the mic for a stunning spoken word performance from TS Eliot Prize-winning poet Joelle Taylor. After the interval, sit back and enjoy the spellbinding singing sensation that is Miss Hope Springs. Expect scandalous showbiz stories interspersed with her unique blend of finger snapping pop, romantic rhumba rhythms and sassy bossa novas.

‘Lively, funny and inspiring. Paul Burston’s achievement in bringing together writers and performers who will stimulate and inspire is remarkable’ Patrick Gale

‘Off kilter Hollywood anecdotage, gorgeous songs that could be vintage standards. Miss Hope Springs is funny, bitter-sweet, totally charming and unexpectedly moving’ Mark Gatiss

‘Joelle Taylor does not mess about. Her poetry is fearless. It gets right to the point. Her poetry has purpose’ Benjamin Zephaniah

Date: Wednesday 17 May

Time: 8pm – 10pm

Venue: Komedia

Price: £9 – £22*

Event code: E13

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Workshop The Happy Poem

While classical odes were composed to celebrate athletic victories, now poets use odes to celebrate everything from a pair of hand-knitted socks to hips to the humble onion. In this two-hour session with widely published Bath-based poet Carrie Etter, you will read and discuss odes by Pablo Neruda, Kevin Young and Lucille Clifton, among others, then write one of your own on a favourite object brought to the session. All are welcome.

Your ticket includes tea/coffee & biscuits.

Date: Thursday 18 May

Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm

Venue: Bath Central Library

Price: £10 – £25*

Event code: F1

Natural History Taking Flight With Lev Parikian

Lev Parikian, writer and birdwatcher, tells the exhilarating story of life on the wing, from the first fluttering insect of 300 million years ago to the awe-inspiring wonder of dragonflies. The miracle of flight has developed in hugely diverse ways, with countless approaches to gliding, diving, murmurating and migrating. Lev wants us all to look up and drink in the spectacle of these gravity-defying marvels.

Date: Thursday 18 May

Time: 11am – 12pm

Venue: Guildhall Salon

Price: £5 – £15*

Event code: F3

Walking Tours

Don’t forget to check out the walking tours daily at 10am, 2pm and 5.30pm on pages 20-21

LUNCHTIME LECTURE EXPOSED: THE GREEK AND ROMAN BODY

If you thought surgery, cosmetics and gym memberships were exclusively modern-day methods to improve looks then think again. Despite Greek and Roman bodies often being seen as flawless, chiselled in white marble and put on a pedestal, in fact they were as imperfect and diverse as ours today. Classicist Caroline Vout takes us on a surprising, humorous and occasionally gruesome journey to discover how the ancients used and abused their bodies.

This event is part of the Lunchtime Lecture series in partnership with University of Bath.

Date: Thursday 18 May

Time: 1.30pm – 2.30pm

Venue: Guildhall Banqueting Room

Price: £5 – £15*

Event code: F4

CURRENT AFFAIRS INSIDE STORIES OF 21ST-CENTURY DIPLOMACY

So much of modern-day diplomacy still takes place behind closed doors, away from cameras and prying eyes. So what does this vital role really look like in today’s world and what does it take to do it well?

Catherine Ashton (And Then What?) and Simon McDonald (Leadership) have observed, supported and guided leaders and countries towards collaboration and stability where hope could rise and fall, often in a matter of hours. They share their incredible insights with Greg Ingham.

CURRENT AFFAIRS HENRY DIMBLEBY: RAVENOUS

We may not be aware of this – not consciously, at least – but we do not control what we eat. Every mouthful we take is informed by a vast, complex, global system, so intimately woven into everyday life that we hardly even know it’s there. Henry Dimbleby ( Ravenous ), government adviser and founder of the Leon restaurant chain, takes us behind the scenes to reveal the mechanisms that act together to shape the modern diet and therefore the world.

He explains to Greg Ingham not just why the food system is leading us into disaster, but what can be done about it.

Date: Thursday 18 May

Time: 5pm – 6pm

Venue: Guildhall

Banqueting Room

Price: £5 – £15*

Event code: F6

Date: Thursday 18 May

Time: 1.30pm – 2.30pm

Venue: Guildhall Salon

Price: £5 – £15*

Event code: F5

Find The Price For You

Have you seen our new flexible pricing? Find the right price for you on our guide on page 5

Pay It Forward Open Concession

STANDARD (RECOMMENDED)

Supported

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SHARING STORIES

A COUNTRY DOCTOR’S STORY: POLLY MORLAND TALKS TO DR RACHEL CLARKE

Shortlisted for the 2022 Baillie Gifford Prize, A Fortunate Woman is a funny, moving and insightful look at the life and work of a country doctor. Writer and documentary maker Polly Morland talks to Dr Rachel Clarke about the importance of healing and caring at this most critical of moments for general practice and us all.

Current Affairs How To Be A Politician With Vince Cable

What is it really like to follow a political career? From getting elected to navigating the back benches and climbing the greasy pole, former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable reveals candid insights from his own turbulent time in Westminster, woven with some of the wittiest and most acerbic political reflections.

Date: Thursday 18 May

Time: 5pm – 6pm

Venue: Guildhall Salon

Price: £5 – £15*

Event code: F7

Date: Thursday 18 May

Time: 7.30pm – 8.30pm

Venue: Guildhall

Banqueting Room

Price: £5 – £15*

Event code: F9