Smith and Page headline Southbank's summer season

Zadie Smith, Julian Barnes and Elliot Page (pictured) are among those headlining the 2023 Southbank Summer Literature Season along with Yomi Adegoke and Bernardine Evaristo, discussing “ground-breaking” new novels, non-fiction titles and poetry.

Running from June to September, the programme will see authors, artists, economists, politicians and poets exploring themes such as the abuse of power, politics of race, modern masculinity and the impact of new technologies.

Author and journalist Adegoke will discuss her debut novel due this summer, The List (won by Fourth Estate in an 11-way auction last year) in conversation with Booker Prize-winner Evaristo. Fellow debut novelist Jacqueline Crooks celebrates Fire Rush (Jonathan Cape, newly shortlisted for the Women’s Prize), in a special event featuring conversation, dance, dub music and extended readings from the book.

Meanwhile Barnes returns to the Southbank Centre for the first time in five years to reflect on his life in literature, as he discusses his novel Elizabeth Finch (Vintage), as well as art, mortality and the concepts of Englishness and Europe.

Smith will talk about the publication of her first historical novel The Fraud (Hamish Hamilton) in an “intimate event” in the Queen Elizabeth Hall foyer, organisers said. Additionally, in a London exclusive event, Colson Whitehead discusses Crook Manifesto, the highly-anticipated sequel to Harlem Shuffle (both published by Fleet).

There will also be a range of conversations across upcoming non-fiction titles including an appearance from Hollywood actor, producer and director Page. He celebrates the publication of his “ground-breaking” new memoir Pageboy (signed by Transworld after a 16-way auction last year) and “discusses life and love, trauma and Hollywood in what promises to be a memorable evening interrogating what it means to untangle ourselves from the expectations of others”, Southbank said.

Former Prime Minister and Home Secretary Theresa May discusses her book The Abuse of Power (secured by Headline through an exclusive submission) in the Royal Festival Hall. Billed as “a searing exposé of injustice and an impassioned call to exercise power for the greater good... [it] draws on examples from domestic and international affairs she was personally involved in at the highest level, including Stop and Search and the Salisbury Poisonings”, organisers said.

Economist Yanis Varoufakis launches his new book Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism (Vintage), which explores how technologically enhanced form of feudalism has usurped capitalism and is written in the form of a letter to his late father. 

Poet and cultural activist Linton Kwesi Johnson will discuss the upcoming Time Come (Picador), bringing together his book and record reviews, lectures, obituaries and speeches, for the first time, which considers how the politics of race still informs the Black British experience. Moran returns to the Royal Festival Hall as she launches What About Men? (Ebury), described by Southbank as “the start of a new, urgent, but also often amusing conversation about masculinity and the challenges of being a man in today’s world”.

Poets will also form a major part of the festival. The National Poetry Library will focus on autism and poetry, and celebrates emerging poets with Hong Kong connections, while Southbank Centre’s resident music and poetry night Out-Spoken returns for its monthly residency. Poets such as Sandeep Parmar and Tishani Doshi will appear in June and July respectively while Kate Fox and Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa will “bust myths" in the event entitled Special Edition: You Can’t Be Autistic, You’re a Poet. The Poetry International festival will also return for the first time since 2019.

Ted Hodgkinson, head of literature and spoken word at the Southbank Centre, said: “This is a summer programme filled with firsts, from fiery new talents to iconic authors breaking new ground. From Zadie Smith discussing her first foray into historical fiction and an electrifying evocation of 1970s London from debut novelist Jacqueline Crooks, to giants of contemporary literature and spoken word Julian Barnes and Linton Kwesi Johnson, reflecting on their extraordinary writing lives.

“Alongside this exceptional array of world renowned authors, we continue to present illuminating talks on pressing contemporary issues, exploring everything from modern masculinity to the abuse of power, with a line-up that encompasses Theresa May, Yanis Varoufakis, Elliot Page and many more.” 

The season runs alongside the previously announced Planet Summer programme which features the return of Poetry International festival and events with names including Greta Thunberg, Mark Carney, Mikaela Loach and Tori Tsui.

Tickets go on sale to Southbank Centre Members on Thursday (4th May) and to the general public on Friday (5th May) at southbankcentre.co.uk, or call 020 3879 9555.