Alexis Wright in Conversation
The author’s epic novels exist in four-dimensional time influenced by Aboriginal oral storytelling and myth: join us as she discusses them with Gaia Vince.
For this event, author Alexis Wright joins us virtually, with Gaia Vince chairing live from the room.
Wright’s storytelling operates on a completely different scale to any other author writing today and has been compared to that of Marlon James, László Krasznahorkai and Olga Tokarczuk.
Her novel Praiseworthy, an enrapturing epic exploring the struggle for Aboriginal self-determination in the shadow of climate change, was praised for its rich language, panoramic plot as well as its sharp wit and biting satire, winning the 2024 James Tait Black Prize and being shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award.
Her recently published work of non-fiction, Tracker, a compelling and creative oral history of the movement for Aboriginal rights and the collective biography of its enigmatic leader, Tracker Tilmouth, was longlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction.
Gaia Vince is a science writer, broadcaster and Anthropocene researcher exploring the interplay between human systems and the planetary environment. She is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Anthropocene Institute at UCL and a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts.
Her first book, Adventures in The Anthropocene won the Royal Society Science Book of the Year Prize. Her latest book, Nomad Century: How To Survive The Climate Upheaval, explores global migration and planetary restoration in a radical call to arms.
Need to know
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Alexis Wright now joins this event virtually. The event remains in-person at the original location, with Gaia Vince chairing live from the room.
Gaia Vince
For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
Plan your visit
The Royal Festival Hall is home to our largest auditorium as well as The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe and Skylon restaurant.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.