Primrose Hill Lecture Series
For almost 20 years, The Primrose Hill Lecture Series has been exploring, and debating, some of the most important issues we face as a modern society. We are now recognised as one of London’s leading spaces for bold, lively and informative talks.
Our home, St Mary’s church at the foot of Primrose Hill, has hosted a huge range of truly world class thinkers and writers: Jonathan Miller, Andrew Marr, Paddy Ashdown, Alan Bennett, Mary Beard and Claudia Roden are just a few of the keynote speakers we have welcomed. Our talks are followed by lively Q&As and the chance to enjoy a glass of wine (or our own St Mary’s craft beer!) And purchase signed copies of speaker’s books from our sponsor Primrose Hill Books.
In the spirit of open doors and open minds, we welcome all sorts of voices and consider no topic off bounds. We are very proud of our growing success and the quality of our line-ups over the years. You can listen to recordings of previous lectures in our Archives Please follow us on social media (look for 'Primrose Hill Lecture Series; on Instagram, Facebook, Eventbrite and Twitter)
Check out our Lecture Archives to see some of the amazing past speakers.
Ticket booking is provided securely via Eventbrite
Single lecture: £15/£10 concessions (OAPs, students)
ONLINE Live-Streaming ticket: £10
7pm Wednesday 4th June
Walter Murch in conversation with Edith Bowman on The Languages of Film Editing and Sound Design
Walter Murch is a triple Oscar-winning film editor, director, writer and sound designer, best known for The Godfather films, Apocalypse Now, Julia and The English Patient. In 1969 he created Zoetrope Studios in San Francisco with Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas. His subsequent work in film editing rooms and sound-mixing theatres not only earned him nine Oscar nominations but was responsible for ground-breaking technical and creative innovations in the film industry. Murch has written extensively on film editing and sound. His best known title, In the Blink of an Eye, is still a bestseller thirty years after publication. His new book, Suddenly Something Clicked, presents a masterclass on what makes great films great. It covers six decades of cinematic history and includes personal stories, meditations on his own creative tactics and reminiscences of his contributions to award-winning films.
Edith Bowman s a radio DJ, television presenter and lover of all things music-related. She created and presents the acclaimed podcast Soundtracking, in which she interviews celebrity guests about the all-important relationship between music and film.
7pm Wednesday 11th June
Jon Sopel in conversation with Libby Wiener on Trump and the new world disorder
Jon Sopel is a journalist, bestselling author and co-presenter of one of the biggest news and politics podcasts in the UK: The News Agents. He discusses his most recent book: Strangeland – How Britain Stopped Making Sense, a thought-provoking examination of post-Brexit Britain. After 8 years as the BBC’s North America Editor where he covered the 2016 and 2020 elections and experienced Trump’s White House at first hand, Jon Sopel returned home to find a very different UK from the one he left. Jon will be reflecting on Britain, and will give his insider’s take on Trump’s second term. In an unsettled world, where is America heading? Having presented the highly successful Americast podcast with Emily Maitlis and Anthony Zurcher, Sopel has plenty to say.
Libby Wiener worked for ITV News as a Political Correspondent at Westminster for two decades, and before that reported from Brussels, Paris, Berlin and Sydney.
7pm Wednesday 2nd July
Matthew Pottage in conversation with Catherine Horwood on Green Spaces – from Wisley to Regent’s Park
Matthew Pottage is the youngest-ever curator of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Wisley gardens. He has recently been appointed the first ever Head of Horticultural and Landscape Strategy for the Royal Parks where he will manage restoration projects across Richmond Park and Bushy Park, and create a new garden in Regent’s Park. An author and regular panellist on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, he started at RHS Wisley as a trainee, progressing from Garden Manager to Curator in just 12 years. He has overseen the creation of the Exotic Garden, the Wisteria Walk, the Heather Landscape and the Clear Lake. He also has plenty of advice for patio gardeners!
Catherine Horwood is an author and historian specialising in horticultural and social history. Her books include Beth Chatto – A Life with Plants, Rose and Potted History – How Houseplants Took Over Our Homes. A long-term resident of Primrose Hill, she is a passionate gardener and has opened her gardens for the National Gardens Scheme. She is a trustee of the Camden Highline and is currently working on a biography of garden designer and author Penelope Hobhouse.
We are a non-profit organisation run by volunteers: the money we raise goes towards valuable community work - including vital local services for the homeless, vulnerable young people and the elderly - and the upkeep of the building that hosts them.
