Thu 12 Sep, 7.30pm
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Literature & poetry
From
£15
Save
Diane Abbott, who made history as Britain’s first Black woman MP, talks to Afua Hirsch about her new memoir telling the story of our nation through her eyes.
From challenging expectations as a bright and restless child of the Windrush generation to making history as the first elected Black female MP in the UK, Diane Abbott has had her share of barriers to break down.
A Woman Like Me takes readers through Abbott’s incredible journey, painting a vivid picture of growing up in 1960s North London with her working-class Jamaican parents, before entering the hallowed halls of Cambridge University to study history.
Ever since the day she first walked through the House of Commons as the first Black woman MP, she has been a fearless and vocal champion for the causes that have made Britain what it is today, whether it’s increasing access to education for Black children and speaking out against the Iraq war, or advocating tirelessly for refugees and immigrants.
A unique figure in British public life, Abbott has often had nothing but the courage of her convictions to carry her through incredibly hostile environments, from torrential abuse in the mainstream media and on social media, to being shunned by the political establishment, including by her own party.
Written with frankness and wry humour, A Woman Like Me is an inspirational account that celebrates how one woman succeeded against massive odds and built an extraordinary legacy.
Diane Abbott was born in London in 1953, to parents who were part of the Windrush generation. She has been the Member of Parliament for Hackney and Stoke Newington for more than 35 years. The first Black woman elected to Parliament, she is also the longest-serving Black MP in the House of Commons.
She is the founder of several initiatives, including London Schools and the Black Child, and Black Women Mean Business. For 12 years, she appeared as a regular contributor on the BBC's political digest show This Week. A Woman Like Me is her first book.
Presented in association with the Black British Book Festival
Need to know
Age recommendation
For ages 14+
This event is Speech-to-Text transcribed (STT).
You can join our free Access Scheme through your online Southbank Centre account or via email.
Find out more about our Access Scheme
Copies of A Woman Like Me are available to purchase as an optional add-on for £18 (RRP £25) when you buy a ticket to the talk. The book must be collected on the night of the event, as we’re unable to distribute copies afterwards.
Dates & times
Thu 12 Sep, 7.30pm
Approximate run time:
1 hour
30 mins
.
Run times may vary by up to 20 minutes as they can be affected by last-minute programme changes, intervals and encores.
Price
- Standard entryFrom £15*
- Concessions25%**
* Excludes £3.50 booking fee.
Book as early as you can to ensure the best choice of tickets. Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.
** Limited availability. Read about concessions.
Tickets can only be sold through the Southbank Centre and our authorised agents, and can't be resold. You can return your tickets to the Southbank Centre for a credit voucher up to 48 hours before the event. Tickets resold on any third-party platforms will become invalid.
Get presale tickets
Members get the first chance to book our entire programme of events, including go-down-in-history gigs, concerts with world-class orchestras, and talks from cultural icons and political giants.
JOIN NOW
Venue
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Our number one priority is the health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff.
Check here for our current guidance
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open 90 minutes before events
See the opening times for all our venues
Our address is: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. The nearest tube and train stations within 5-7 minutes walk are Waterloo (Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee and Waterloo & City lines) and Embankment (District & Circle lines). There are also lots of bus routes with stops 2-5 minutes from our venues. For more information on getting here by road, rail or river.
Visit ourGetting here page
Pre-booking online is recommended. Check our website on the day for returns.There’s no need to print your e-ticket – just show your phone to our Visitor Assistants on entry.
Some free events don't require a ticket. Found an event labelled FREE on our website with no way to book? Simply turn up on the day.
If you don't receive your e-ticket
Your e-ticket will be sent to you seven days before the event date from [emailprotected]. If you don't receive your e-ticket, and it's not in your junk or spam folder, please get in touch.
Email us
More information
Find out all you need to know about tickets, including concessions, group bookings, returns, credit vouchers and more, via the link below.
Frequently asked questions
Get an overview of the seating layout of Queen Elizabeth Hall by downloading our seating plan.
Download seating plan
Toilets
An accessible toilet is located in the foyer.
A Changing Places toilet is located on Level 1 Royal Festival Hall next to the JCB Glass Lift, for the exclusive use of disabled people who need personal assistance to use the toilet.
The facility includes a height-adjustable bench, tracking hoist system, a centrally-placed toilet, a height-adjustable basin and a shower. Please visit the Welcome Desk on Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, where a member of staff can provide you with the key. You can also use the phone next to the Changing Places toilet to speak to a member of staff. The facility is open daily 10am – 11pm.
Cloakroom
The Queen Elizabeth Hall cloakroom is closed. You won’t be able to bring any bags over 40 x 25 x 25cm into the Queen Elizabeth Hall, so please leave large bags at home.
We're cash-free
Please note that we're unable to accept cash payments across our site.
For step-free access from the Queen Elizabeth Hall Slip Road off Belvedere Roadto the Queen Elizabeth Hall auditorium seating (excluding rows A to C) and wheelchair spaces in the Rear Stalls, plus Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer and the Purcell Room, please use theQueen Elizabeth Hall main entrance.
To reach this entrance, enterthe Royal Festival Hall viathe Southbank Centre Square Doors. Take the JCB Glass Lift to Level 2 and exit to the Riverside Terrace. Turn right to find the Queen Elizabeth Hall main entrance.
You can also use the external lift near the Artists' Entrance on Southbank Centre Square to reach Mandela Walk, Level 2.
For access to the Queen Elizabeth Hall auditorium seating rows A to C and wheelchair spaces in the Front Stalls, please enter via the Artists' Entrance in the Queen Elizabeth Hall Slip Road (Level 1).
Talk to a member of staff at the auditorium entrance if you have a disability that means you can’t queue, or you need extra time to take your seat. They can arrange priority entry for you as soon as the doors open.
Please bear with us while we update our access map to reflect the refurbishment of the Royal Festival Hall’s Level 2 foyer spaces. The step-free routes remain the same.
Download step-free access map
More about Access and facilities
From a snack with coffee to co*cktails and fine dining, plus some of London's best street food – it's all here on the Southbank Centre site.
