AI: A Guide for the Perplexed
Professor Richard Susskind, a leading expert on the impact of artificial intelligence, challenges us to rethink its role in society. In his accessible, non-technical guide, How to Think About AI, Susskind draws on his extensive experience working with AI since the 1980s. As the world’s most cited author on the future of legal services and […]
Jack Rosenthal: A Celebration
Join us as we mark the 20th anniversary of the passing of Jack Rosenthal, one of the most beloved playwrights and screenwriters of the 20th century. This special event honors his lasting impact on both screen and stage, with his wife, Maureen Lipman, leading the celebration alongside close friends and family. Their daughter, Amy Rosenthal, will be […]
Curb Your Enthusiasm: Good for the Jews?
With its razor-sharp wit and boundary-pushing humour, Curb Your Enthusiasm has become a cultural phenomenon. But how does Larry David’s masterpiece reflect Jewish identity, challenge stereotypes, and resonate—or not—with audiences worldwide? Comedian and broadcaster Viv Groskop is joined by Paddington and Philomena Cunk writer Joel Morris, author of Be Funny or Die: How Comedy Works and Why It Matters, and Jeremy Dauber, Columbia […]
Myra Hess: National Treasure
Dame Myra Hess, Britain’s most celebrated concert pianist, became a national icon through her legendary lunchtime concerts at the National Gallery, which took place every weekday throughout World War II, bolstering Londoners’ morale. In the first biography of Hess in nearly 50 years, Jessica Duchen offers a compelling and nuanced portrait of this charming, complex […]
Craig Brown: A Voyage Around the Queen
Anne Frank kept her picture on the wall of her annex; Virginia Woolf compared her to a caterpillar; Haile Selassie gave her a gold tiara. Queen Elizabeth II was famous for longer than anyone who has ever lived. Now the One Two Three Four author and Private Eye diarist Craig Brown makes his Jewish Book […]
Jewish Country Houses
Country houses have long stood as powerful symbols of national identity, conjuring images of the opulent world of the landowning aristocracy. Yet, the Jewish country house tells a more nuanced and complex tale of prejudice, assimilation, and resilience. Some were centres of lavish entertaining, while others served as hubs of intellectual and artistic innovation, inspiring […]
Emma Barnett & Jeremy Weil: Jewish UK in Colour
Something special for opening night: the launch of Colour In…Jewish UK, an exciting addition to Emma Barnett and Jeremy Weil ‘s local colouring book range, Colour Your Streets. Created especially in time for our 74th festival, this wonderful colouring book celebrates the country’s Jewish communities, inviting people of all ages to come together to colour in landmarks they love and sights […]
Picasso’s Muse
The greatest art romance of all time? A haunting love story? Perhaps both. Born Henriette Markovitch, Dora Maar was a gifted photographer, poet, and painter. Yet history often remembers her primarily as Pablo Picasso’s muse—his passionate partner who inspired Guernica and his turn towards political art. Their tumultuous relationship, marked by Picasso’s infidelity and refusal […]
Giant: Nicholas Hytner & Mark Rosenblatt
Having been previewed exclusively at our 2024 festival by director Sir Nicholas Hytner, Mark Rosenblatt’s play Giant became London’s theatrical sensation of the year. Based on true events and starring John Lithgow as Roald Dahl, Giant sold out its entire Royal Court run before its first preview and received five-star reviews from critics at The […]
The Promised Land? Authors in Israel Post 7 October
How has Israeli identity, life and literature been shaped by the seismic events of 7 October and their aftermath? Journalist and author Jenni Frazer leads a thought-provoking conversation about resilience, creativity and the enduring power of words with three outstanding Israeli writers: journalist Amir Tibon, whose The Gates of Gaza is the story of his family’s rescue from Kibbutz Nahal […]
New Fiction Voices
Three of the most compelling novelists to emerge in recent years join us to discuss their work and shared themes of family tensions, British Jewish life, and coming of age. Journalist Tom Lamont’s Going Home, named an Observer Debut of 2024, follows three men and a female rabbi who step in to raise a toddler. […]
Robert Popper: The Elsie Drake Letters
“Robert Popper is not only certifiably one of the Funniest People in the World™, but also the loveliest 104-year-old woman you could ever hope to meet.” Weird Al’ Yankovic With Friday Night Dinner, Robert Popper created one of the most beloved sitcoms of the century, cementing his place as a comedy genius. His impressive portfolio […]