KCWC upcoming events

Evening Speaker - "Quake, Wave, War" Illustrated Talk by Diana Penn (30/09/2026)

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:00:00 GMT

We are invited to join members of The Rag to meet and hear from the lovely Diana Penn as she talks about her fascinating memoir Quake, Wave, War.

For 25 years Diana worked in international finance before making a life changing decision on her children leaving home, to change direction, gain the necessary experience and go on to work in overseas aid. The talk shares an understanding of the extraordinarily sensitive job that aidworkers on the ground undertake.

We shall see Diana’s own unique moment photography and hear readings from her diary entries and letters home, as we learn more of the vast challenges and even moments of joy in the lives being lived in very demanding circumstances.

Wine and soft drinks are included. Books available to buy.

For any queries, contact Activity Leader Bee Robb at eveningspeakers@kcwc.org.uk

After Six: Fine Dining in Chelsea (01/10/2026)

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:30:00 GMT

Join After Six for our first Welcome Back dinner at this charming restaurant in Chelsea!

Due to its success last year, we are returning to the elegant No. 50 Cheyne for a three course meal using fresh British ingredients. Service is included in the price and pre-orders will be taken.

Our events tend to sell out quickly but please do join the waitlist. See you after the Summer!

Please contact Activity Leaders Alison Wacker and Lisa Woodcock for any queries at aftersix@kcwc.org.uk

Theatre - "Sinatra: The Musical" (06/10/2026)

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 18:30:00 GMT

It is New Year’s Eve 1942, a skinny 27- year-old Italian-American singer is about to step onto the stage of New York City’s Paramount Theatre and give a performance that will change music history. But as Frank Sinatra’s voice captures a nation, his heart is torn between his wife, Nancy, and movie goddess, Ava Gardner. When a scandal and a hostile press send his career into a tailspin, the young crooner fights back and stages the greatest comeback in show business history.

Featuring over twenty classic hits, including “That’s Life”, “One for my Baby” and many others, don’t miss Sinatra: The Musical. It is the most revealing portrait ever told about the legendary singer!

“You only live once and the way I live, once is enough.” Frank Sinatra

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

Quiz Night (13/10/2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Join us for a pub quiz at the Crabtree - it's £2 per person quiz entry fee paid directly to the quiz master on the evening.

The quiz gives you the chance to win a £50 bar tab for first place to a bottle of wine for second-to-last-place. The quiz normally starts at 8pm, but we're planning to meet from 7pm so we can grab a table and form a team or two.

Partners are bery welcome, so feel free to bring them along and test your general knowledge!

Please note: This is an established pub quiz and we're looking to form teams on the evening with KCWC members as well as partners and friends.

For any queries, please contact Activity Leader Sarah-Jane Luckhurst at eveningevents@kcwc.org.uk

Evening Book Group - Kin by Tayari Jones (21/10/2026)

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join us for this month's book discussion which will be on Kin by Tayari Jones (368 pages).

Vernice and Annie are 'cradle friends', born days apart in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, both destined never to know their mothers. The girls are inseparable, bound by a friendship far deeper than sisterhood. But this is the American south in the 1950s. Black girls like Vernice and Annie have to fight for every opportunity they can, and neither one can build the future they hope for in Honeysuckle.

Gradually, inevitably, the girls drift apart. Vernice pursues her education; Annie is lured by the promise of a heady first love affair and a growing obsession with finding her mother. But her search pulls her even further into a world of danger that soon leaves her oldest friend battling to save her.

For any queries, contact Claudia on eveningbookgroup@kcwc.org.uk

Evening Speaker - Jeremy Hunt: Can We Be Rich Again? (22/10/2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Can Britain rediscover its economic confidence -- and become prosperous again?

Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt tackles one of the most important questions facing the UK today. Drawing on his experience steering the economy through inflation and recession, he will explore why growth has stalled, what Britain still has going for it, and how the country could build a stronger and more prosperous future.

From Britain's world-leading universities and financial services to its thriving technology sector, Hunt argues that the foundations for success are already in place. He will share his case for optimism and set out practical ideas for getting Britain's economy moving again.

Jeremy Hunt will be in conversation with John Sergeant, the former BBC and ITV Chief Political Correspondent, bringing together two familiar voices for an engaging discussion about Britain's economic future.

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

Theatre - "The Cherry Orchard" (27/10/2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Kristin Scott Thomas is starring in Chekhov's final master piece that captures a world in delicate, inevitable transition - and remains as timeless and resonant as ever.

When Lyubov Ranevskaya (Scott Thomas) returns to her childhood estate after years abroad, she finds her family home and beloved cherry orchard under threat. As old loyalties falter and new ambitions rise, a world of privilege begins to crumble. Can Lyubov embrace the future, or will the pull of memory prove impossible to escape?

Don't miss this deeply moving portrait of love, loss and letting go . . .

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.

For any queries contact event organiser Viola Hindley at theatre@kcwc.org.uk

After Six - Buon Appetito (28/10/2026)

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Join the After Six Crew for a modern Italian meal a stone’s throw away from Sloane Square.

Azzurra is part of the Aqua Group ( Aqua Shard) and has restaurants in major global cities. The Chelsea eatery maintains their high standards, whether it be the sustainable fresh fish or the homemade pasta, the food is delicious. The setting is equally impressive, with an elegant coastal theme running throughout, and a striking 16 metre bar as you enter.

There will be a choice of two courses with ample selection of a main, and either a starter or dessert. Pre- orders will be taken closer to the date. The price includes service and table water, but all other drinks are on your own tab.

A presto or see you soon!

Please contact Activity Leaders Alison Wacker and Lisa Woodcock for any queries at aftersix@kcwc.org.uk

CANCELLED: Evening Speaker - The Battle of Isandlwana, a Talk by Douglas Rattray (29/10/2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT

The Battle of Isandlwana, A Talk by Douglas Rattray

Experience a vivid, moving account of the Battle of Isandlwana from both the English and Zulu perspectives. Douglas Rattray—son of the internationally renowned Anglo-Zulu War expert David Rattray—brings the courage of desperate soldiers and the gallantry of proud Zulu warriors to life, capturing the events of 22 January 1879 with passion and brilliant storytelling.

Anyone who has heard Douglas speak on the battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift knows his deep knowledge, passion, and wonderful ability to captivate an audience.

Douglas Rattray, from Fugitives’ Drift Lodge near the Anglo-Zulu War battlefields in South Africa, continues his father’s legacy with authority and warmth.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of history and storytelling! Refreshments included. This event is open to partners and guests.

TICKETS: £31.05 online with our KCWC 20% discount code provided by the Activity Leader.

Step1 - sign-up on this KCWC site to reserve a spot and indicate your interest.

Step 2 - contact the Activity Leader at eveningspeakers@kcwc.org.uk to request the link and KCWC Discount Code you will need to actually purchase your ticket through the Royal Geographical Society.

For any queries, contact Event Organiser Ina Messer at eveningspeakers@kcwc.org.uk

Evening Events - Adornment through History (10/11/2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

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

Evening Book Group - My Friends by Fredrick Backman (19/11/2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

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

Theatre - "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" (24/11/2026)

Tue, 24 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

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.

For any queries contact event organiser Viola Hindley at theatre@kcwc.org.uk

Theatre - "The Lives of Others" (07/12/2026)

Mon, 07 Dec 2026 19:30:00 GMT

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.

For any queries contact event organiser Viola Hindley at theatre@kcwc.org.uk