BBC Free Thinking Festival 2015

Now in its tenth year, the Festival brings together high-profile figures from the worlds of arts, science, politics and literature to discuss and challenge current thinking on a range of topics, this year focusing on a theme of ‘Tearing Up The Rule Book’, exploring why the idea of rule-breaking has become so attractive to business, politics, culture and other areas of public life – and asking which of our rule books need to be kept firmly intact.

Guests and speakers include American poet Claudia Rankine, scientist and atheist Richard Dawkins, Chocolat author Joanne Harris, actresses Sheila Hancock and Juliet Stevenson, novelist and filmmaker Tariq Ali, authors Anne Fine and Pat Barker, journalist Simon Heffer, theatre director and author Neil Bartlett, former table tennis champion and writer Matthew Syed and award-winning composer Jocelyn Pook. PLUSperformances from Royal Northern Sinfonia, Peggy Seeger, Sam Robson, The Wilson Family, Camille O’Sullivan, Voices of Hope and The Marian Consort.

To guarantee your place in the audience reserve your tickets in advance. Some tickets will be available on the day.