Olivia Laing: The Art of Resistance
Olivia Laing, Clare Farrell and Adrian Fisk discuss protest, freedom of expression and the climate crisis, in a conversation chaired by Cedar Lewisohn.
Join us to hear a vital discussion on how can art be used to both engender and document acts of resistance.
Olivia Laing spent the summer of 1997 in a tree protesting the destruction of much woodland to make way for a strip of road.
Today, Extinction Rebellion co-founder Clare Farrell is at the forefront of the movement campaigning for the preservation of our planet.
Photojournalist Adrian Fisk has borne witness to both through his camera lens, focusing on geo-political visual analysis of South Asia as well as documenting the British environmental movement from 1995 to 1999.
The discussion takes in the evolution and intensifying criminalisation of disruptive protest, what this means for freedom of expression and the climate crisis, and how art can be used to both engender and document acts of resistance.
This event is delivered in partnership with English PEN, one of the world's oldest human rights organisations.
The founding centre of PEN International, a worldwide writers’ association with 147 centres in more than 100 countries, English PEN protects freedom of expression whenever it is under attack, supports writers facing persecution around the world, and celebrates contemporary international writing.
In partnership with English PEN
Need to know
For ages 16+
Dates & times
Price
- Standard entryFrom £10*
- Concessions25%**
* Excludes £3.50 booking fee.
Book as early as you can to ensure the best choice of tickets. Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.
** Limited availability. Read about concessions.
Tickets can only be sold through the Southbank Centre and our authorised agents, and can't be resold. You can return your tickets to the Southbank Centre for a credit voucher up to 48 hours before the event. Tickets resold on any third-party platforms will become invalid.
Get presale tickets
Members get the first chance to book our entire programme of events, including go-down-in-history gigs, concerts with world-class orchestras, and talks from cultural icons and political giants.
Multi-buy discount
Book multiple talks happening as part of Planet Summer and receive a discount. Offer applies only to the events listed below.
Book two events get 20% off
Book three events get 30% off
Book four or more events get 40% off
Rebecca Solnit, Thelma Young-Lutunatabua & Guests
Mikaela Loach: It's Not That Radical
Olivia Laing: The Art of Resistance
Writers Rebel: Responding to the Climate Crisis
Dominique Palmer: Climate Joy and Optimism
Mark Carney on Climate Action and Finance
Is Climate Activism Working?
Tori Tsui: It's Not Just You
The Climate Conversation
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.
Pre-booking online is recommended. Check our website on the day for returns. There’s no need to print your e-ticket – just show your phone to our Visitor Assistants on entry.
Some free events don't require a ticket. Found an event labelled FREE on our website with no way to book? Simply turn up on the day.
If you don't receive your e-ticket
Your e-ticket will be sent to you seven days before the event date from [email protected]. If you don't receive your e-ticket, and it's not in your junk or spam folder, please get in touch.
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. The phone outside the Changing Places toilet will connect you with a member of staff, who can provide you with the key. 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
Please note that we're unable to accept cash payments across our site.
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.