2023

As Time Goes By

Summary

As Time Goes By explored the concept of being a good ancestor as well as examining how we handle the legacies handed down to us. Can we become good ancestors and work towards creating a different future from the trajectory we are on now? How do we handle the legacy handed down to us? What are the issues we need to reconcile ourselves with? How do we see ourselves in the history of life on earth? What are the timescales we should be working to?

Programme

03
March (Friday)

Meet Michael Rosen (11am)

11:00
- 12:00
Malvern Cube
Michael Rosen, one of Britain’s best loved writers and performance poets for children, presents a session for children with stories of his family and childhood.

Meet Michael Rosen (2pm)

14:00
- 15:00
Malvern Cube
Michael Rosen, one of Britain’s best loved writers and performance poets for children, presents a session for children with stories of his family and childhood.

Archaeology in the Age of Genetics

19:30
- 21:00
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Discover how archaeology and genetics are joining forces to shed light on Ancient Britain, as Alice Roberts shares stories from her bestselling books, Ancestors and Buried.
04
March (Saturday)

On REAL equality and inclusion

09:30
- 10:30
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Afua Hagan, one of the leading voices on diversity in Britain, examines our legacy in the context of Black Lives Matter and Equality for Women.

The Ship of Thesus

10:00
- 10:00
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Theseus kept repairing his ship until one day all the parts had been replaced with new parts. We will discuss the question 'Is it the same ship? This session is aimed at roughly 7-11 years.

Drawing stories from the past

11:00
- 12:00
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Headshot photo of Will Hughes
Artist and illustrator. Will Hughes presents a workshop for children showing how to create and draw historical characters and use them to make an illustrated story. Suitable for 5-10 years.

Melissa Benn and Jane Martin – In Conversation

11:00
- 12:00
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Writer and campaigner, Melissa Benn, in conversation with social historian, Jane Martin, about the strength of political and family traditions - concerning ethics, ideas and ways of campaigning - and how this works its way down the generations

The Frog and the Scorpion

12:00
- 13:00
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Can we ever be blamed for following our nature? Is there such a thing as being too kind? These are the questions that the fable of The Frog and the Scorpion make us think about. This session is aimed at roughly 7-11 years.

Relative Distance in the Afterlives of Slavery

12:15
- 13:15
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Matthew J. Smith, Director of the Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery, shares some of his reflections within the context of wider work at the Centre on questions of the afterlives of slavery.

Re-frame Your Now; Re-vision Your Future: A Regenerative Way of Seeing

12:15
- 13:15
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Ruth Davey explores how seeing with fresh eyes helps us improve our wellbeing and resilience in the face of uncertainty

This Womanist Work

12:15
- 13:15
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Belinda Zhawi in conversation and performance with poet and filmmaker Victoria Adukwei Bulley about their work and expressions of Black feminist poetics.

Science Magic . . . Magic Science

14:00
- 15:00
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Science Presenter, Educational, Entertaining Science Showman, Ian Dunne delivers a science show for a family audience

Insurgent Empire

14:00
- 15:00
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Priyamvada Gopal, Professor of Postcolonial Studies at the University of Cambridge, discusses how Britain's enslaved and colonial subjects were not merely victims of empire but also agents whose resistance shaped British ideas about freedom and who could be free.

Benjamin Zephaniah and Liz Berry have a chat

15:30
- 16:30
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Poet, writer, lyricist, musician and actor, Benjamin Zephaniah in conversation with award-winning Black Country poet, Liz Berry, about racism, Black Liberation, revolution and the purpose of poetry.

The Condensed History of the Universe

15:30
- 16:30
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Science Presenter, Educational, Entertaining Science Showman, Ian Dunne delivers a science show for a family audience

A Political View

19:30
- 21:00
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Carwyn Jones, former First Minister of Wales, presents a political view of this year's theme.
05
March (Sunday)

What Biodiversity?

09:30
- 10:30
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Scientist, adventurer, campaigner and wildlife TV presenter, Megan McCubbin, highlights issues for the climate and the breadth of biodiversity we share our planet with.

The Life Inside

11:00
- 12:00
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Andy West blends memoir, storytelling and gentle philosophical questioning to allow you to gain a new insight into our justice system, our prisons and the plurality of lives found inside prison.

Me and White Privilege

12:15
- 13:15
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Understanding how white people benefit from white privilege is one of the most fundamental (& often challenging) aspects of beginning anti-racism work. Drawing from her experience of recognising her own White Privilege ,Danielle Wilson will define it and give extra information.

Rewind in time, how did fast fashion evolve? How do we stop it now!!

12:15
- 13:15
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Malvern Green Space explores the issue of fast fashion, the impact on the planet and creative ways of sustainable fashion.

MindTravels

12:15
- 13:15
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Headshot photo of Mark Hutchinson
Crossing the borders between mindfulness and mental health awareness, Mark’s incisive and gentle spoken word performances combine with Josh’s improvised piano to produce a truly unique experience. Mindtravels invite you to a meditative space, yes, but also to prepare for the stor

We can do better than this

14:00
- 15:00
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Writer Amelia Abraham addresses the question of how we can shape a better world for LGBTQ+ people. In conversation with Gay's the Word bookseller and reviewer Uli Lenart.

From what if to what next

15:30
- 16:30
Malvern St James Girls’ School
Rob Hopkins invites you to explore how to make your ‘what if’ questions a reality

Speakers

Gallery

Discover this year’s theme

Details of this year’s venues, speakers and programme are released on our homepage as they are agreed.