Photo of Miriam Margolyes credit to Claire Sutton.
The London Library, Thursday December 2nd 2021. Doors 6.30pm. Salon starts 7.30pm. 9pm finish.
We’ve missed you! The buzz, the beauty, the JOY of being together!
Award-winning actor, creator of a myriad of unforgettable characters from Lady Whiteadder to Gertrude Stein, Miriam truly is a national treasure and possibly our very favourite lesbian. She’s made us wait until now for her extraordinary life story. And it's far richer and stranger than any part she's played. From declaring her love to Vanessa Redgrave to being told to be quiet by the Queen, this book is packed with brilliant stories. This Much Is True she claims. Will one evening be enough?
We met Mohsin Zaidi when he was finishing his memoir and worrying about it. A Dutiful Boy is an instant classic - told with humour and love. Raised in a strict Muslim household in East London, Mohsin dodged gangs on his way to school. All the while reckoning with his sexuality. He escaped to Oxford on his way to a career in law. Does he manage to reconcile seemingly irreconcilable worlds?
What a night it’s going to be!
We’re popping up at the London Library, where we launched The Giver of Stars with Jojo Moyes. The London Library opened in 1841, - it’s the largest independent lending library in the world and supported by its esteemed Members. Alumni include Bram Stoker and Virginia Woolf. Today you might spot Inua Ellams or Sarah Waters scribbling among the stacks. Apparently, they all have favourite desks!
Doors open at 7pm. The Salon starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are seated-early arrivals swoop on the seats at the front. There will be no interval. We finish around 9pm but you’re very welcome to stick around after—the bar will be open. This event will be COVID-safe. The London Library is all ours for the night. We will release more tickets on the day and if you can’t make it, we will be sharing highlights.
• Early bird (in person) tickets are £15 inc welcome drink.
• Newsletter Subscriber (in person) tickets are £25 inc welcome drink.
• Standard (in person) tickets are £25 inc welcome drink.
• Online tickets (watch live and after event) £5
• Plus Eventbrite booking fees.
For more information about the London Library go to www.londonlibrary.co.uk/whats-on. You can also find out about their event access and COVID guidelines www.londonlibrary.co.uk/EVENTS-ACCESS-GUIDELINES.
Covid Safety at the Salon
Due to the rapidly changing Covid situation, we’re taking extra steps to keep everyone safe at our Salon on Dec 2nd at london Library. And we need your help. Please pay attention to the updated information below. Do get in touch if you have any questions or if your situation has changed and you’d like a refund.
Here are the measures we're taking to keep you as safe as possible and information about what you can do to help us protect everyone on the night.
Most important: Please take a lateral flow test on Wednesday or Thursday and present proof of a negative result on arrival.
Please wear a mask on arrival or have proof of exemption. We will have disposable masks, should you need one.
As much as we’d LOVE to see your smiles, please wear a mask during the event and when moving around the room.
All our staff will be masked and tested on the day.
We’ve reduced capacity to give everyone in the room as much personal space as possible, but we are not able to put 2 metres between each seat.
We will have a bar area and we will be serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Please return to your seat with your drink and/or do your best to socially distance near the bar.
Windows will be open for ventilation but the Library has good heating so you’ll still be cosy! If you’d like to keep your coat with you, please do.
Please socially distance where possible and make use of the hand washing facilities and sanitizer stations.
Finally, please stay safe and comfortable at home if you have tested positive for coronavirus or have symptoms of illness, including a cough, sore throat, runny nose or fever. As ever, we reserve the right to refuse entry. We want everyone to feel safe and comfortable so they can enjoy the Salon and sharing stories. If, for any reason, you feel unable to attend in person we will gladly refund your ticket and hope you can join us online.
Thank you for all your help and support!