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Jordan Stephens against a grey wall wearing a grey jacket and black baseball cap
View all events for category: Literature & poetry

Jordan Stephens: Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak and Dogs

The writer and performer introduces his candid, moving memoir, exploring masculinity, mental health, addiction and heartbreak, in conversation with Africa Brooke.

More details for Purcell Room
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Diagnosed twice with ADHD, Jordan Stephens found his teens and 20s a whirl of career success and nurturing friendships, but also a brutal pattern of self-harm, hedonism, destructive coping mechanisms and heartbreak.

Unsparingly digging into the fear, tenderness and trauma he carried in his body and mind, and the confusing assumptions of what a young man should be, Stephens discovers what it means to be a modern man, why we should all open ourselves up to life, and how the price we pay for love in all its forms is worth it.

Jordan Stephens is a writer and performer, best known as one half of the chart-topping duo Rizzle Kicks, who sold over 600,000 copies of their debut album Stereo Typical in the UK.

Having been publicly open with his own struggles surrounding mental health, Stephens has been very active in creating awareness around the stigma. His mental health campaign #IAMWHOLE reached over 120 million people online and was mentioned in the Houses of Parliament. His children’s book The Missing Piece was recently shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Prize.

Need to know

Age guidance
For ages 16+

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.

We’re cash-free

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