Activists in Conversation: Matt Cain and Anthea Lawson in Cambridge
Schedule
Tue Jun 30 2026 at 06:00 pm to 07:30 pm
UTC+01:00Location
Waterstones | Cambridge, EN
About this Event
Join LGBTQ+ campaigner, novelist and author of The Castle of Stories Matt Cain in conversation with Anthea Lawson, author of How Not To Save The World, a nonfiction book about how to avoid the pitfalls of activism. Matt and Anthea are lifelong friends who met at Cambridge University in the mid-1990s when they were determined to change the world. They'll talk about the successes and failures, what's changed, and what they've learned.
About the authors
Matt Cain is a writer, broadcaster and leading commentator on LGBTQ+ issues. He was Channel 4’s first Culture Editor, Editor-In-Chief of Attitude magazine, has written for all the national newspapers, and has appeared on BBC Breakfast, Good Morning Britain, The Today Programme and Lorraine. He’s a patron of LGBT+ History Month, has received an honorary doctorate from Bolton University, addressed the Cambridge Union, and in 2025 was awarded an MBE for services to LGBTQ+ culture.
Matt’s bestselling novels include The Madonna Of Bolton, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle and One Love. His latest, The Castle of Stories, is set in the Italian property that has become his second home. Born in Bury and brought up in Bolton, Matt’s main home is in London with his husband Harry and their dog, Teddy.
Anthea Lawson has fought for many issues over three decades including controls on the arms trade and an end to the financial secrecy offered by tax havens. She helped launch a campaign for transparency over company ownership which resulted in changes to the law in dozens of countries. After training as a journalist at The Times, she worked for campaign groups including Global Witness and Amnesty International. Her writing helps people who want to change the world think about the psychological, spiritual and philosophical foundations of what they’re doing, what’s getting in the way, and how they can be more effective.
Anthea has been an activist for over three decades, including fighting for controls on the arms trade and putting an end to financial secrecy offered by tax havens. After training as a journalist at The Times, she worked for campaign grounds including Global Witness and Amnesty International. Her first book was The Entangled Activist.
Where is it happening?
Waterstones, 22 Sidney Street, Cambridge, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 5.00 to GBP 13.00
