Grayson and Philippa Perry, Ken Loach and Kwame Kwei-Armah join Royal Academy's Festival of Ideas line-up

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Zoe Paskett12 March 2019

Leading figures in the creative arts will discuss big topics at the Royal Academy's second Festival of Ideas.

The eclectic lineup features big names from the world of art, design, film, literature, music, dance and theatre, appearing in talks, discussions and workshops at the beginning of May.

Grayson Perry will discuss art, sex and creativity with his wife, psychotherapist Philippa Perry, while Turner Prize nominated twin sisters Jane and Louise Wilson discuss their interest in politics, conflict and surveillance.

Michael Palin will be sharing his love for paintings and director Ken Loach will talk about his 50-year career and reactions he’s encountered in the UK.

Audiences can hear about designer Sir Paul Smith’s inspirations as well as Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant on the art of songwriting, while fans of the stage can hear Young Vic artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah talking about his lifelong love for theatre, and choreographer and composer Hofesh Shechter reflecting on making art in a politicised world.

Literary lovers can listen to novelist Elif Shafak (The Bastard of Istanbul and Three Daughters of Eve) talk about gender and identity in her work, and Kate Mosse and Sarah Dunant discuss their best-selling historical novels and how they approach the past in different ways.

Author and poet Michael Rosen takes on the British education system in his talk about the importance of teaching the arts, while poet and playwright Lemn Sissay will discuss the power of language to change society and how poetry saved his life.

The Future of Feminism panel brings together four writers – Yomi Adegoke (Slay in Your Lane), Laura Bates (Girl Up, Misogynation), Candice Carty-Williams (Queenie) and Natalie Hayne (The Amber Fury) – to talk about what it means to be a woman in the era of Trump and #MeToo.

There will also be a number of events for families, including Dame Jacqueline Wilson revealing the secrets behind her most memorable characters, Cressida Cowell and Chris Riddell discussing the double art of storytelling and illustrating, while providing a live drawing on stage. Marvel, Doctor Who and the Beano comic artist Kev F Sutherland will help workshoppers create strips of their own.

The second Festival of Ideas follows the Royal Academy’s inaugural event in September.

The Festival Of Ideas runs from May 2-6, with tickets available from roy.ac/festivalofideas

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