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Eimear McBride: The City Changes Its Face

The novelist marks the release of The City Changes Its Face, an intense story of passion, possessiveness and family, in conversation with Miranda Sawyer.

More details for Purcell Room
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Eimear McBride wearing a silver necklace and a green top.

It’s 1995. Outside their grimy window, the city rushes by. But in the flat there is only Stephen and Eily. Their bodies, the tangled sheets. Unpacked boxes stacked in the kitchen and the total obsession of new love.

Eighteen months later, the flat feels different. Love is merging with reality. Stephen’s teenage daughter has reappeared, while Eily has made a choice, the consequences of which she cannot outrun. Now they face a reckoning for all that’s been left unspoken – emotions, secrets and ambitions. Tonight, if they are to find one another again, what must be said aloud?

Love rallies against life. Time tells truths. The city changes its face.

Described by Claire Kilroy as ‘an immersive battle between the faultlines dividing us and the bonds which unite us,’ McBride’s fourth novel is a powerful tale of love, desire and hurt.

Eimear McBride is the author of four novels: A Girl is a Half-formed Thing, The Lesser Bohemians, Strange Hotel and The City Changes Its Face. She is the recipient of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, Goldsmiths Prize, Kerry Prize, and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, among others.

Miranda Sawyer is an English journalist and broadcaster. Besides her features and radio criticism for The Observer, her writing has appeared in GQ, Vogue and The Guardian. She is a regular arts critic in print, on television and on radio. Her books include Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in 20 Songs.

Need to know

Age guidance
For ages 18+
Event information

The event closes with the screening of a film made by Eimear McBride, A Very Short Film About Longing, followed by a post-show signing.

Copies of The City Changes Its Face are available to purchase as an optional add-on for £17 (RRP £20) when you buy a ticket to the talk. The book must be collected on the night of the event, as we’re unable to distribute copies afterwards.

This offer only applies to copies of the book pre-purchased with a ticket and is not available at the event itself.

For your visit

This event is held at the Purcell Room Southbank Centre

The Purcell Room is located in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.

Concrete interior of Purcell Room entrance at Southbank Centre View larger image

Plan your visit

The Purcell Room is an auditorium located within our Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Getting here

Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.

The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues.  More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.

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Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.

Access

We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.

All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.

All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.

Food & drink

From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.

Places to eat and drink whilst you’re here