5x15: Live at The Tabernacle: September 2026

5x15 returns to The Tabernacle in style with a stellar line-up of writers, thinkers and musicians, for an evening of captivating stories.
About this Event

Join 5x15 as we kick off our autumn season in style, for an evening of storytelling with a stellar line-up of writers, thinkers and musicians, live at The Tabernacle.

The 5x15 format is simple: 5 speakers, each with 15 minutes to change how we see the world.

On September 28th, expect insightful stories about contemporary childhood and the power of asking questions; tales of love and family, poetry and pop music.

Speakers

Ben Okri and Rosemary Clunie on the art of storytelling. Ben Okri is a Booker Prize-winning novelist, as well as an acclaimed essayist, poet, and playwright. His books have been translated into twenty-eight languages and he has won numerous international prizes, including the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Africa, the Aga Khan Prize for Fiction, and the Chianti Ruffi no-Antico Fattore.His latest book is The True Artist Breaks Out of J*il, a provocative collaboration with renowned artist Rosemary Clunie. Rosemary Clunie is a painter, printmaker, video artist, illustrator, and children’s book writer. She has exhibited widely since 1991, including at the World Economic Forum in Davos, 2022 British Art Fair, and 2024 Venice Biennale, and her paintings are held in eminent private and public collections.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce on childhood in contemporary Britain. Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Children's Laureate 2024–2026, is a multi award-winning children’s book author and screenwriter. Millions, his debut children's novel, won the prestigious CILIP Carnegie Medal. His books have been shortlisted for a multitude of prizes, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children’s Fiction Award, The Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award. His latest book, A British Childhood, tell the story of 21st century childhood in Britain, through real lives in homes, libraries, schools and streets across the country.

Louise Doughty on love, family and a discovery made after losing her parents. Louise Doughty's novels include Platform Seven, recently filmed for ITV; Black Water, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year; the bestseller Apple Tree Yard, which was adapted for BBC One; and Whatever You Love, nominated for the Costa Novel Award and the Women's Prize for Fiction. She has been nominated for many other prizes including the Sunday Times Short Story Prize and the CWA Silver Dagger, along with creating and writing the hit BBC drama Crossfire. Her latest book, and first memoir, is On This Spot Fell One Tear of Love.

Kathy Lette on the challenges of sisterhood. Kathy Lette first achieved succès de scandale as a teenager with the novel Puberty Blues, which was made into a major film and a TV mini-series. She has written 20 books which have been translated into 19 languages. Kathy has two children and divides her time between Sydney and London. Kathy is an autodidact (a word she taught herself) but has three honorary doctorates. She is a TV presenter, newspaper and magazine columnist and also an ambassador for Their World, the National Autistic Society and Ambitious About Autism. Her latest novel, The Sisterhood Rules, is published by Head of Zeus.

Emma-Lee Moss on pop music, identity and growing up in Hong Kong, plus a live musical performance. Emma-Lee Moss on is a writer and musician. As a writer, Emma-Lee has contributed to the Guardian, Vice, i-D, British GQ, Wired, the Good Journal and more. As a singer-songwriter performing under the name Emmy the Great, she released four studio albums, as well as several collaborations and soundtracks. She writes original songs for film, theatre, television, radio and community projects, and is interested in the way that songs interact with our everyday lives. Her first book, My Cantopop Nights: A Memoir in Songs, is a story of pop music, identity crisis and Hong Kong.

Lani Watson on the power of asking questions. Lani Watson is a philosopher and Honorary Fellow at the University of Edinburgh and a world-leading expert in the philosophy of questions. She is fascinated by the art and science of asking questions and understanding how we can harness their power for good, as explored in her new book Q: The Hidden Power of Questions in a World that Wants Answers. Her research focuses on questioning in everyday life and she is passionate about applying her expertise to help everyone make the most of asking great questions, having worked with businesses and organisations around the world. Follow Lani on social media @thequestionsdr