Atwood, Akala and Yanagihara headline Southbank Centre's spring season

Double Booker Prize-winning author Margaret Atwood is headlining the Southbank Centre's spring literature season, alongside Akala and Hanya Yanagihara.

Atwood will be appearing live on stage to discuss her new book Burning Questions (Chatto & Windus) and will tackle "myriad subjects including feminism and freedom, the environment and technology". The event will also be available to live stream for audiences across the world.

The spring season will take place from January to April 2022. Tickets go on sale to Southbank Centre members on 9th December and to the general public on 10th December. 

Other highlights include an in-conversation event with Akala, discussing a wide range of topics including his book The Dark Lady (Hodder Children's Books) as well as special readings and performances from the Hip Hop Shakespeare Company, which he co-founded in 2009. 

Yanagihara introduces her new novel To Paradise (Picador), which spans three centuries and three different versions of the American experiment, at an in-conversation event with author Neel Mukherjee. Elsewhere on the bill, Booker winner Marlon James discusses the second title in his Dark Star trilogy, Moon Witch, Spider King (Hamish Hamilton), alongside the rich tradition of African mythology, fantasy and history.

Ted Hodgkinson, head of literature and spoken word at the Southbank Centre, said: “After a hugely successful hybrid autumn season and London Literature Festival in 2021, we’re bringing in the new year with a selection of events to lift the spirits and replenish the imagination, with exclusive appearances from world-renowned authors including Margaret Atwood, Marlon James and Hanya Yanagihara alongside innovative new spoken word performances.”