Service95 and English PEN: Censorship Live!
Real-life stories from journalists, writers and activists, readings and discussion confronting rising threats to expression, hosted by author Oliver Bullough.
Join Service95 and English PEN for an evening of readings and discussion hosted by award-winning journalist and author Oliver Bullough, exploring the rising threats to free expression faced by writers, journalists and the UK public – and how we can respond.
Bullough is joined by a line-up of performers who read from work that has been targeted, and from messages that writers, journalists and members of the public have received. These range from the absurd to the sinister, as our guests explore the form these threats take, their proximity to our everyday lives, and what they mean for the future of art and culture.
Featuring real-life stories from novelists, journalists, musicians and activists on the receiving end of legal threats, pressure from lobby groups and state overreach, alongside expert discussion on what can be done, join us to consider how we protect the freedoms to write, speak, read and listen.
Need to know
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
31 Oct 2026, 12pm
Run time
1 hour and 15 minutes (approx)
All timings are approximate and subject to change
Standard entry
from £17
Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.
Concessions
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Refunds and exchanges
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For your visit
This event is held at the Purcell Room Southbank Centre
The Purcell Room is located in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Purcell Room is an auditorium located within our Queen Elizabeth Hall.
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
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.