Women Talking: Where to find me at Greenbelt Festival
Greenbelt is one of the highlights of my year. I haven’t missed one since I *think* 2011, and am privileged to have increased my involvement with the festival over the years - from talks team planning to being on the board of trustees, where I am currently vice-chair.
But without doubt one of my favourite things to do is host conversations and panels. Over the years, I’ve interviewed or spoken alongside people including Dr Rowan Williams, Caroline Lucas, Paul Mason, Emma Dabiri, Reni Eddo-Lodge, Vicky Beeching, Rachel Mann, Paula Gooder, Jendella Benson, Sekai Makoni, Andrew Copson, and more!
This year the festival takes place Thursday, 21 August - Sunday, 24 August, at Boughton House in Kettering, and I’m particularly excited about the conversations I’m taking part in with three amazing women. Details below of who these women are, and where and when you can find us at Greenbelt.
Adjoa Andoh
Adjoa is an actor, writer, director, with a career spanning four decades. As an actor she is currently best known for playing Lady Danbury in Bridgerton and in its prequel Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton story, for which she is a three-time nominee at the NAACP Awards.
She’s also had lead roles at the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Court Theatre, Young Vic, The Kiln, and in 2019, she conceived, co-directed and played the lead in Richard II at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in the UK’s first all women-of-colour production. 2023 saw Adjoa direct, co- produce and play the lead in a new theatre production of William Shakespeare’s Richard lll for Liverpool Playhouse and The Rose Theatre Kingston – also now a film. I’ll be interviewing her, and talking all things arts, race, womanhood and faith.
Lady Danbury at Boughton House - Pagoda - Saturday, 11am (More details here)
Liz Carr
Liz is best known for her role as formidable forensic examiner, Clarissa Mullery, in Silent Witness (BBC One). Other TV credits include Good Omens (Amazon), Les Miserables (BBC One), Independence Day (BBC), and This Is Going To Hurt (BBC). I’m a fan of Silent Witness, but have become even more of a fan of Liz since she became a vocal advocate against assisted dying. Ahead of the passing of the Leadbeter Bill earlier this year, Liz hosted BBC documentary – Better Off Dead? which explores the repercussions of assisted suicide, and why she believes it shouldn’t be legalised in the UK. Catch us in conversation:
Vocal Witness - Pagoda - Saturday, 2pm (More details here)
Beth Allison Barr
I am so unbelievably excited that Professor Barr will be coming all the way from the US to be in conversation with me about our two books. Hers The Making of Biblical Womanhood and Becoming the Pastor’s Wife, and mine Unmaking Mary: Shattering the Myth of Perfect Motherhood. Professor Barr’s book was one of those that shaped mine, and I was delighted when she agreed to write the foreword to Unmaking Mary. We’ll have lots to discuss at Greenbelt: from the Virgin Mary to tradwives on Instagram, we’ll explore how society’s interpretations of the Bible have distorted how women are seen.
Making and Unmaking - Pagoda - Saturday, 5pm
But wait, there’s more…
As well as these conversations with women, I’ll be taking part in two other panels:
Hope in the Dating: Finding love and connection in a disconnected world
As we explore whether technology has made it easier or harder to form genuine connections, are we at a cultural turning point in how we approach dating and relationships? How can we keep honesty and authenticity at the heart of our interactions? I’ll be joining Beth Chan, Lamorna Ash, Seth Pinnock and Vicky Walker (chair) in what promises to be a fascinating conversation.
Friday - Pagoda - 8pm
And finally…
Church: Do you still go?
Quiet revival or quiet denial? Is big best or is small beautiful? What keeps you going or sends you running? Can we belong without believing - or vice versa? Have you given up or have you found another way? These are just some of the questions Martin Wroe will be putting to me, Lamorna Ash, Jayne Manfredi, Andrew Rumsey and John Philip Newell.
Saturday - Pagoda - 8pm
It’s going to be a busy one… but I wouldn’t have it any other way?
Still time to get your tickets to Greenbelt. Come for the whole weekend, come for the day, or tune in to the No Fly Zone online events from home.
