Towards the end of her life May Morris (1862-1938) - designer, craftsperson, and younger daughter of William Morris – wrote, ‘I’m a remarkable woman, always was, though none of you seem to think so’. Overshadowed in her lifetime by the achievements of her illustrious father, today May Morris is recognised as a leading figure in the Arts & Crafts Movement. Excelling in the field of embroidery, she was Head of Embroidery at Morris & Co. by the time she was twenty-three. May also designed wallpapers, made jewellery, lectured, edited and was a talented amateur watercolour artist. She was instrumental in founding the Women’s Guild of Arts formed to support women working in the Arts and Crafts field at a time when they were excluded from similar organisations. A skilled editor, May spent her later years editing the 24 volumes of her father's collected works.

Click here for the flier

Frida Kahlo was one of the first truly global artists- a cultural phenomenon, and an internationally recognised figure. She produced more than 150 images of herself - 'I am my own muse; the subject I know best’ she once wrote - she turned herself into an art historical icon and yet her small and eccentric paintings went largely unnoticed in her lifetime - it was only after her death, age 47, that her career exploded. Cindy Polemis will explore the life and legacy of the extraordinary and incomparable Frida Kahlo.

Click here for the flier

A talk which examines the journey of the musical, from its almost accidental beginnings of The Black Crook of 150 years ago through to the modern phenomenon which is Hamilton. This illustrated lecture will highlight the great musical productions which have graced London’s West End and Broadway and focuses upon the game changing moments of both composers and productions. From Jerome Kern to Lin-Manuel Miranda, every great musical has its own story; from page to stage. Enjoy the great music, the great stories and the dynamic theatricality of their finest moments.

Click here for the flier

Through the four aspects of Feasts, Frivolity, Fantasy and Faith, this lecture explores how the Tudors celebrated Christmas.  We look at the dynasty from its first monarch, Henry VII, through to its last, Elizabeth I, using art from the period to illustrate the rich culture of the time.  The era of five hundred years ago will be brought to life through recipes, types of dancing and music, drama and devotion to recreate the evocative atmosphere of a Tudor Christmas.

Click here for the flier

Almost everyone has played Monopoly at some time in their life.  It is one of the world’s most popular and enduring board games.  But, how well do you really know it? This talk starts with the original Landlord’s Game of 1903 and its evolution into the game as we know it today.  Based on the classic 1936 London version we then take a photographic journey around the locations on that Monopoly board.   Expect some surprises as we explore the relationships between the various properties, look at the ones that don’t actually exist and uncover the story behind the game we all know so well - or do we?

There is far more to be discovered about the Bayeux Tapestry than could ever be covered in one lecture. Who made it, where and why are the most frequently asked questions – although they might also be seen as less important beside the information the tapestry itself offers us. It is not just a narrative of the most famous battle in English history, but also of the build-up to it. It is a moral story showing that good cannot come to those who break their word. It is a story of kings, chivalry and ambition. Intriguingly, many crucial events are omitted and we can only speculate as to why. The tapestry itself is made using only 10 different colours on linen, but remains as vibrant today as it must have been 900 years ago. The lecture looks at many of the scenes in detail and explores what might be learned from this depiction of a turning point in our history. 

Beethoven’s deafness is well known but the psychological impact of this was devastating and also was far from his only problem. Less well known, is the parallel decline in his physical health and failure of many of his organs – the causes I discuss. From an unparalleled quantity of documented material, this lecture will describe in his own words the impact of all his challenges  and on his phenomenal outputs. The talk is also richly illustrated with extracts of recordings of his works.  I conceive of this talk like a medical "Desert  Island Disc' as in - apologies to Lauren Laverne  - "So Ludwig, tell us about your next symphony and what was going on health wise". But this is a serious story.  As you listen to the short clips and  at the same time hear about his declining health,  this lecture will be an emotional  roller coaster of a life's journey.  Clearly dying, and in the most appalling physical distress, he was able to produce works such as the 9th Symphony, ironically based on the Schiller’s ‘Ode to Joy’ – a contradiction that defies credulity. In a final twist the lecture will show that laboratory analysis in the past 5 years of sampled of Beethoven’s hair have helped unravel the cause of his health problems!