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View all events for category: Literature & poetry

Self Esteem Presents

Join the musician for music and spoken word from Travis Alabanza, Pam Ayres, Kelli Blanchett, Marged, Kate Nash, Tom Rasmussen, Jack Rooke and Seraphina Simone.

Travis Alabanza is a writer, performer and theatre maker from Bristol. Their debut book, None of the Above: Reflections on Life Beyond the Binary was published by Canongate in 2022 and won the Jhalak Literary Prize, the Somerset Maugham Award, and was listed in TIME magazine’s 100 books of 2023.

Pam Ayres MBE is a poet, writer, broadcaster and entertainer who has been making the nation laugh for 50 years. She is the author of several best-selling poetry collections, including The Works, With These Hands and her latest book Doggedly Onward – A Life in Poems, published in October 2024.

Kelli Blanchett is an alt-folk musician from the Midlands, whose music explores love, friendship, the disabled experience and feeling rubbish all of the time. Her EP, Crosses, was produced by Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem). Her music has featured on TV and radio, and she was a BBC Introducing Artist of the Week.

Based in south London and hailing from the Welsh capital, Marged is a multidisciplinary artist working across voice, movement and performance. She delves deep into the realms of vocal practice, recognising its transformative power as a tool for collective liberation.

Kate Nash is a platinum selling recording artist, musician and actress from London. She started her career on myspace uploading her demos to the platform and playing in and around London in 2006. In 2007 her debut album, Made of Bricks, went to number one in the UK charts and she was crowned ‘Best Female Artist’ at the 2008 BRIT Awards.

Tom Rasmussen is a London-based artist and prominent figure in the LGBTQIA+ community. Known for their dark dance music that blends pop, queer club culture, and their experiences as a former drag performer, their debut album, Body Building (Globe Town Records 2023), received critical acclaim.

Jack Rooke is the creator, writer and narrator of comedy-drama Big Boys, an adaptation of his acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe shows Good Grief and Happy Hour. As a broadcaster and performer, his credits include hosting Radio 6 shows with Rebecca Lucy Taylor.

Seraphina Simone is the artist moniker of composer, producer and vocalist Seraphina D’Arby. Growing up between London and LA, her music draws on the syrupy seediness of Cali glamour and murky, neon-lit London grit. She has been part of Self Esteem’s live band since 2020.

Need to know

Age guidance
For ages 16+
Event information

An exclusive box package is available, which includes:

  • Hire of a private box (seats up to eight people).
  • Use of the Royal Retiring Room, a private lounge with its own toilet facilities, for the duration of the event.
  • One free drink per guest on arrival (prosecco, wine, beer or soft drink).
  • Dedicated host to take drinks orders throughout the event.

Access

To book tickets for BSL interpretation, email [email protected] or call us on 020 3879 9555.

You can join our free Access Scheme through your online Southbank Centre account or via email.
Find out more about our Access Scheme
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For your visit

This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre

The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.

Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.