Festival of the Accused + Light Source at The British Library
Sat 4th Nov 2023 at 10:00am-Sat 4th Nov 2023 at 7:00pm
The British Library, London
£10 - £30
+ fees
Tickets
Festival of the Accused + Light Source at The British Library
Reinventing and reclaiming the witch with Kirsty Logan, Juno Dawson, Malcolm Gaskill, Ronald Hutton, Naomi Paxton, Marion Gibson, John Callow, Shami Chakrabarti, Marisa Carnesky, Zoë Howe, the Witches of Scotland, Jenny Runacre, Amy Kingsmill, Parma Ham and more.
This event will take place in the British Library Knowledge Centre. Some sessions will be simultaneously live streamed on the British Library platform. Tickets may be booked either to attend in person (physical) or to watch on our platform (online) either live or within 48 hours on catch up. Viewing links for the online version will be sent out shortly before the event.
The witch has long been a source of fear and revulsion but has become a symbol of feminine power, sexual liberty, indigenous knowledge and political rebellion.
The Festival of the Accused delves into the history of witchcraft and summons a host of writers and performers who praise the modern witch. It tells the true stories of those accused in the English Witch Trials, a violent reckoning that gripped the country for hundreds of years and affected thousands.
It also celebrates modern devotees of the craft, in all their strangeness and subtlety. From the authors of ‘WitchLit’ telling tales of powerful covens, to queer performance artists who draw inspiration from the occult.
The festival concludes with a spectacular twilight performance by artist Amy Kingsmill and a memorial reading by actor Jenny Runacre in the Library’s Pigott Theatre.
A day pass gives you access to all sessions* and the Light Source Finale: Performance and Memorial Reading. An online day pass give you access to all sessions marked ‘At the Library and Online’ in the programme.
Signings and book sales in the foyer throughout. Bookstall provided by Newham Books. Specialist esoteric books, unusual titles and magical items by Treadwell’s Books.
Practical Tarot readings are provided by Heather Bandenburg. Heather is a cabaret performer & author who moonlights as a Cunning Woman and offers answer all and any of life’s leading questions.
Full schedule and ticket info below
Programme
10:00 – 18:00: Screening Room: Live Art Performance at the British Library
11:30 – 12:30: Rituals: Performance Art and Witchcraft
13:00 – 14:00: Witchful Thinking: The Wise Woman's Handbook
13:00 – 14:00: The Bideford Witches: John Callow and Shami Chakrabarti in Conversation
14:30 – 15:30: Witch-Hunt: A History of Persecution
16:00 – 17:00: A New Coven: Witches in Contemporary Fiction
16:15 – 17:15: Witches of Scotland at the Festival of the Accused
18:00 – 19:00: Light Source Finale: Performance and Memorial Reading
Screening Room: Live Art Performance at the British Library
10:00 – 18:00, Bronte Room
Free and drop in
A curated selection of live performance from contemporary practitioners and historic recordings from British Library collections. Featuring: Porscha Present, Gracegracegrace, Elizabeth Chao Ying Rao, Bonnie Bakeneko and yaya bones. Archival recordings from the Chelsea Theatre Sacred Seasons, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Battersea Arts Centre and the Live Art Development Agency.
Age recommendation: for ages 18+ only.
Rituals: Performance Art and Witchcraft
11:30 – 12:30, Eliot Room
At the Library
Exploring the witch and magical practices in cutting-edge performance art. This panel explores the witch as touchstone for artists and performers and delves into the power of ritual to captivate and move us. With Marisa Carnesky, Amy Kingsmill and peformer Parma Ham and chaired by the writer Jennifer Higgie.
Witchful Thinking: The Wise Woman's Handbook
13:00 – 14:00, Eliot Room
At the Library
Internationally acclaimed author, artist, musician and solitary witch Zoë Howe discusses her handbook on magic and inspiration. Step into witchful thinking, as a means of independence and sovereignty with Howe who draws on the age-old archetype of the ‘cunning woman’. conversation with academic and author Laura Kounine.
The Bideford Witches: John Callow and Shami Chakrabarti in Conversation
13:00 - 14.00, Pigott Theatre
At the Library and Online
In his fascinating book The Last Witches of England: A Tragedy of Sorcery and Superstition, John Callow charts the changing attitudes towards the Bideford women, from revulsion to regret, into celebration in our own age. He is joined by human rights lawyer, campaigner and writer Shami Chakrabarti. Together they’ll uncover the tragedy of the Bideford women and ask what it tells us about present day persecution and the dangers of demonising others.
Witch-Hunt: A History of Persecution
15:00 – 16:30, Pigott Theatre
At the Library and Online
This event addresses the dark history of mistrust, incrimination and public violence that spawned the English Witch Trials. Our panel of leading historians will delve into the forces that fuelled the trials and consider their legacy on legal history, religious belief and attitudes towards those perceived as ‘other.’ With Malcolm Gaskill and Marion Gibson. Chaired by performer, researcher and broadcaster Naomi Paxton. Featuring a special pre-recorded contribution from historian Ronald Hutton.
A New Coven: Witches in Contemporary Fiction
16:00 – 17:00, Pigott Theatre
At the Library and Online
Enter the world of ‘WitchLit’ – the new genre of historical and fantasy fiction that is conquering 2023. With Kirsty Logan author of Now She is Witch, Juno Dawson author of the fantasy trilogy Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, A K Blakemore author of The Manningtree Witches and Stacey Thomas on her debut novel The Revels. Chaired by historian, broadcaster and founder of HistFest Rebecca Rideal.
Witches of Scotland at the Festival of the Accused
16:15 – 17:15, Eliot Room
At the Library
The campaigning podcasters record a live episode at the library and reflect on getting justice for those convicted under the Witchcraft Act. With Scotswoman of the year nominees Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi, artist Amy Kingsmill and founder of Treadwell’s Books, Christina Oakley Harrington.
Light Source Finale: Performance and Memorial Reading
18:00 – 19:00, Pigott Theatre
Entrance to the performance is free
As the Festival of the Accused concludes, we invite you to gather in the Poets Circle to honour the lives lost to the English Witch Trials. Join us in the open-air amphitheatre for a spectacular twilight performance and memorial reading. With artist Amy Kingsmill, who wears a white gown embroidered with the names of some of those accused and convicted of witchcraft in England, gathered through archival research. And reading by actor and director Jenny Runacre, star of Pasolini’s The Canterbury Tales (1972), Derek Jarman’s Jubilee and alongside Anjelica Huston in The Witches (1990).
Age recommendation: for ages 18+ only. The performance contains nudity.
If you’re attending in person, please arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start time of this event.