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Judy Tayler-Smith of the Burns Club of London has invited our members to their William Will Evening, a nice warm-up for our joint Burns Night dinner in January.
Dr Clark McGinn, world renowned Burnsian and past president of the Burns Club will entertain and inform us about the origins and development of the Burns Supper to the international phenomenon it has become. Clark is entertaining and erudite. This talk is really worth hearing. We shall also enjoy songs from soprano Borbala Gunyits-Kenesey, one of the finalists in our inaugural Scottish Singing Competition, accompanied by Emelia Noack-Winkinson. Their performance will include settings of some Burns songs by famous classical composers. Another treat will be the performance by Alain English of the Burns masterpiece The Cotter's Saturday Night.
A cash bar will be available from 6:30, and the performances begin at 7:00pm, followed by a sandwich supper and the cash bar will re-open.
The cost of this special evening is £40.
Two-Step Ticketing Process:
1) Sign-up for a "free" ticket here, then . . .
2) To actually book your place, email Burns Club Treasurer David Morrison at treasurer@bcol.org.uk as soon as possible . . . make sure to tell him you are a member of the KCWC Club who has been invited to join this event, and he will provide payment details. Book before mid-day on Monday 2nd November if possible.
For any queries, contact event coordinator Alya Samokhvalova at events@kcwc.org.uk
From Persian Kings & Nefertiti to Contemporary Art
An intimate evening with artist and jewellery designer Marcela Alatorre.
Join KCWC for a fascinating evening exploring the history, symbolisnm and artistry of the necklace with artist and jewellery designer Marcela Alatorre Shirazi, creator of "Make Near Heaven".
An artist since childhood, Marcela studied at Central Saint Martins and the Victoria & Albert Museum and has spent more than two decades creating distinctive statement necklaces from rare antique and vintage glass beads. Her work combines her love of colour, texture, history and craftsmanship, and has attracted collectors from around the world.
Through an illustrated talk, Marcela will take us on a visual journey from the magnificent jewellery of ancient Persia and Egypt, including the iconic adornments of Nefertiti, through to contemporary art and design. We'll discover how necklaces have been used throughout history to express identity, status, symbolism and personal style.
Following the talk and Q&A, guests will have the opportunity to view Marcela's collection up close. Each statement necklace incorporates antique and vintage glass dating from the 1800s to the present day, giving historical materials new life through a circular approach to fashion. Pieces will also be available to purchase during the evening.
A wonderfully intimate evening of art, history, jewellery and conversation.
For any queries please contact Activity Leader Sarah-Jane Luckhurst at eveningevents@kcwc.org.uk
Join the extraordinary Prue Leith for a lively, candid and thoroughly entertaining conversation about growing older and making the most of life.
A much-loved food writer, restaurateur, author and television personality, Prue has become a familiar face on our screens. Now, in her latest book, Being Old, she turns her attention to something we all have in common: ageing.
With her trademark wit, warmth and refreshing honesty, Prue explores the challenges and taboos of getting older, while also celebrating the unexpected pleasures and opportunities that come with it. Part memoir and part reflection, Being Old is full of amusing anecdotes, thoughtful observations and practical wisdom.
Expect plenty of laughs, fascinating stories and an inspiring look at what it means to grow older with confidence, curiosity and a sense of fun.
As Delia Smith says:“Few people have aged so gracefully and enterprisingly as Prue. How she’s done it is a revelation, full of humour and practical advice.”
Don’t miss this chance to spend an entertaining and thought-provoking evening with Prue Leith.
TICKETS: £25 online (£20 with our KCWC discount code)
Step1 - sign-up on this KCWC site to reserve a spot and indicate your interest.
Step 2 - you will receive the link to the actual Kent House Series ticket site from the Activity Leader and can then purchase an actual ticket using the KCWC discount code provided in the email.
Doors open at 7pm, talk begins at 7:30pm
For any queries, contact Activity Leader Ina Messer at popup@kcwc.org.uk
This month's discussion will be on My Friends by Fredrik Backman (448 pages).
Twenty-five years ago, a group of teenagers found solace in each other during one unforgettable summer. Their friendship inspired a transcendent work of art, a painting that now mysteriously belongs to eighteen-year-old aspiring artist Louisa.
Driven to learn the story behind its creation, Louisa embarks on a journey to the seaside town where it all began. But as she gets closer to the painting’s birthplace, Louisa learns that happy endings do not always take the form we expect.
For any queries, contact Claudia on eveningbookgroup@kcwc.org.uk
Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup star in a new revival of Edward Albee’s Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? at @sohoplace.
In the early hours of the morning on the campus of an American college, Martha, much to her husband George’s displeasure, has invited the new professor Nick and his wife Honey to their home for some after-party drinks. As the alcohol flows and dawn approaches, the young couple are drawn into George and Martha’s toxic games until the evening reaches its climax in a moment of devastating truth-telling.
Edward Albee’s drama remains one of the most powerful and unflinching portrayals of marriage ever written. Brutal, funny and deeply human. "Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf?" continues to shock and captivate audiences long after its debut.
NOTE: There will be an optional Pre-Theatre Dinner at your own expense. Details will be emailed from the Activity Leader closer to the event to the KCWC members who have purchased a ticket to the musical.
For any queries contact event organiser Viola Hindley at theatre@kcwc.org.uk
One of the BBC’s most respected journalists joins us to talk about his extraordinary life and career. An award-winning broadcaster and writer, Fergal Keane began his career reporting on ‘the Troubles’ in Northern Ireland and for more than three decades has been a witness to conflicts around the world, including the Rwandan genocide, the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, the war in Ukraine, and the Israel - Palestine conflict.
Join Jimmy Wales, the visionary entrepreneur and founder of Wikipedia, for a fascinating and thought-provoking conversation about one of the most important issues of our time:trust.
Best known for creating Wikipedia, the world’s largest and most widely read reference work, Jimmy Wales has transformed the way we access and share information. Now, in his latest book,The Seven Rules of Trust, he explores why trust matters more than ever in a world where misinformation, uncertainty and declining confidence in institutions are increasingly part of everyday life.
Drawing on his extraordinary experience of building Wikipedia from a revolutionary idea into a globally trusted source of knowledge, Jimmy explores the principles that make trust possible – and why they matter not only online, but in our businesses, schools, families and wider society.
Expect an insightful, lively and engaging evening with one of the internet’s most influential pioneers, as Jimmy considers how we can rebuild trust and what it takes to create a more trustworthy future.
Listening changes everything.
1984. East Germany. A writer and an actor are placed under state surveillance. From the attic above their apartment, a Stasi man listens for evidence of subversion. But . . . what was first an operation to prove guilt becomes a story about empathy and complicity. To observe a life is to risk changing your own.
Olivier Award-winner Robert Icke (Oedipus, Oresteia, Romeo & Juliet) adapts and directs this first stage version of Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s acclaimed film , starring:
Keira Knightley (Black Doves, Atonement, The Misanthrope)
Stephen Dillane (Game of Thrones, The Tunnel, Vigil)
Luke Thompson(Bridgerton, Dunkirk, Oresteia)
"The Lives of Others" revisits a story that has only grown more contemporary over time. Living in a culture shaped by surveillance, technological identification, and loose definition of freedom, this play asks us to ponder what lives on when our thoughts and speeches are captured, even in our most intimate moments, and what the cost of humanity means.
KCWC is invited to the The Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea’s Charity Christmas Carols.
A wonderful festive evening at St Mary’s Church, The Boltons, in Kensington, with special guest readers starting at 6:30pm.
Refreshment and mulled wine will be served at 7:30pm
Meet-up: the nearest tube station is Earls Court (11 min walk to the church) We can meet at Earls Court tube station at 5:45pm and walk 11 minutes together or meet directly in the Church at 6:00pm to start at 6:30pm.
Note: Please do NOT unclick "include name in list of event registrants" when purchasing your ticket as you may miss important communications about this event.
For any queries, contact Event Organisers Maria Puleio and Bee Robb at Eveningspeakers@kcwc.org.uk
Join Itamar Srulovich and Sarit Packer, the much-loved couple behind London’s Honey & Co., for a delicious and entertaining evening celebrating the joy of everyday food.
Since opening their first restaurant in 2012, Itamar and Sarit have become renowned for their warm hospitality and vibrant Middle Eastern cooking, creating food that is generous, flavourful and full of character. Alongside their restaurants, they have written five acclaimed cookbooks and host the popular podcast Honey & Co: The Food Sessions.
Their latest book, Honey & Co. Daily, is all about making everyday cooking more enjoyable – from a quick lunch or Tuesday-night supper to a cake baked simply because you fancy one. The recipes are designed to be easy, achievable and full of flavour, without spending hours in the kitchen.
Expect an evening filled with stories, inspiration and plenty of ideas for bringing a little more flavour and joy to your everyday table.
Members: please login before registering for an event.
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