Open Book
Elizabeth Day and Johny Pitts present a special edition of Radio 4’s Open Book, exploring AI and the novel.
Joining them on stage are Naomi Alderman, Adam Thirlwell and Julianne Pachico, to discuss depictions of AI in their fiction – and what AI might mean for fiction.
Naomi Alderman’s latest novel, The Future, is the tale of a daring heist hatched in the hope of saving the world from the tech giants whose greed threatens life as we know it. Adam Thirlwell’s The Future, Future takes us from revolutionary Paris to a lunar commune, while in Jungle House, short story writer Julianne Pachico tells the story of a young girl raised by artificial intelligence in a jungle holiday home.
The event is recorded and edited for broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 26 October, and for download on BBC Sounds.
Need to know
For ages 16+
This event is now sold out. If for any reason you are no longer able to attend, please contact the Southbank Centre Ticket Office at [email protected]
You can check for returns on the day in person at the Ticket Office, Queen Elizabeth Hall, or contact the Southbank Centre Ticket Office.
Please be aware that as this is a live recording, latecomers are not permitted. Please arrive at the venue no later than 30 minutes before the advertised start time.
Dates & times
Price
- Standard entryFree, but ticketed
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Venue
Purcell Room
Our number one priority is the health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff.
Open 90 minutes before an event until the end of the event. Closed at all other times.
Our address is: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. The nearest tube and train stations within 5-7 minutes walk are Waterloo (Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee and Waterloo & City lines) and Embankment (District & Circle lines). There are also lots of bus routes with stops 2-5 minutes from our venues. For more information on getting here by road, rail or river.
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More information
Find out all you need to know about tickets, including concessions, group bookings, returns, credit vouchers and more, via the link below.
Get an overview of the seating layout of the Purcell Room by downloading our seating plan.
Toilets
An accessible toilet is located in the foyer.
A Changing Places toilet is located on Level 1 Royal Festival Hall next to the JCB Glass Lift, for the exclusive use of disabled people who need personal assistance to use the toilet.
The facility includes a height-adjustable bench, tracking hoist system, a centrally-placed toilet, a height-adjustable basin and a shower. Please visit the Welcome Desk on Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, where a member of staff can provide you with the key. You can also use the phone next to the Changing Places toilet to speak to a member of staff. The facility is open daily 10am – 11pm.
Cloakroom
The Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room cloakroom is closed. You won’t be able to bring any bags over 40 x 25 x 25cm into the venues, so please leave large bags at home.
We're cash-free
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Purcell Room is located in Queen Elizabeth Hall. For step-free access please use Royal Festival Hall JCB glass lift to Level 2 and enter via Riverside Terrace.
Talk to a member of staff at the auditorium entrance if you have a disability that means you can’t queue, or you need extra time to take your seat. They can arrange priority entry for you as soon as the doors open.
Please bear with us while we update our access map to reflect the refurbishment of the Royal Festival Hall’s Level 2 foyer spaces. The step-free routes remain the same.