Celebrities including Paloma Faith, Louis Theroux, Caitlin Moran and Lemn Sissay will be delivering their lessons in life from 9th-11th September in London’s King’s Cross, as part of the The Times+ Life Lessons festival.
Teaching us how to navigate and thrive in today’s world and inspiring us all to learn to live a life without limits, this fully inclusive, community-wide event will feature over 100 thought leaders and brilliant minds to explore stories, ideas and attitudes over the three days of the festival.
As a connected nation subjected to constant stimulation accompanied with high levels of stress, thanks to a global pandemic, burnout is fast becoming the next epidemic.
The three-day event will see a unique and eclectic programme of 60 live talks across three stages, 30 Masterclasses, a host of interactive experiences, art installations, live entertainment and social spaces to explore how we can take back control of our health and wellbeing and live better.
Launched in 2020 with great success, bringing together brilliant minds and expert thought leaders to discuss how to live well in our modern world, the 2021 event was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Stages & Talks
The main stage will welcome a stellar line-up of speakers, including immersive documentary maker and broadcaster Louis Theroux, renowned singer, actress and personality Paloma Faith, award-winning fashion entrepreneur and globally renowned businesswoman Anya Hindmarch CBE, author, journalist and broadcaster Caitlin Moran, entrepreneur, speaker and investor Steven Bartlett, and poet, playwright and memoirist Lemn Sisay OBE among many others. The full line up can be seen HERE.
The In Good Company stage offers a series of discussions and debates from leading health, wellbeing, cultural and business mentors including Homosapien host Chris Sweeney, doctor and youth mental health ambassador Dr Alex George, leading wellness profession and international TEDx speaker Adrienne Herbert, Times radio host, journalist and presenter Mariella Frostrup, journalist, author and broadcaster Anna Whitehouse, and poet, mental health advocate and producer Hussain Manawer and many more.
Leaders in travel, sport, adventure and self-discovery will share their real-life stories on high performance and overcoming adversity on the Discovery Stage. Speakers include Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh, Alice Liveing and Fats Timbo, as well as a guest curated stage on Saturday in partnership with the learning and development platform BecomingX, which will see a host of remarkable people sharing their stories to inspire others to realise their own potential.
Those looking for intimate talks with experts on personal development can take part in the Times+ Masterclass Series. These sessions explore ways to improve and adapt lifestyle choices dealing with topics such as ‘How to overcome imposter syndrome’, ‘How to get your glow back’ and ‘How to build a healthy brain’ as well as a dedicated series on Money Matters in partnership with Times Money Mentor. Experts include the likes of leading breathwork expert Stuart Sandeman, movement coach Roger Frampton, award-winning food producer and psychologist Kimberley Wilson and health and wellbeing expert Madeleine Shaw.
Immersive Experiences
The world-first Sensory Slowdown will captivate festival goers through a unique multi-sensory immersive journey. Devised by renowned innovator and sensory designer Ari Peralta, in collaboration with colour and wellness consultants Mycoocoon, the experience will combine light, scent, sound and touch to help visitors unwind and explore new ways to switch off, calm the mind and restore the senses.
Inspired by circadian science, the Sensory Slowdown will begin with colourful optical illusions to tease the brain, followed by discovering the visitor’s personalised chromatic profile and peak productivity time, finishing with an enveloping meditation to replenish energy and elevate mood.
In partnership with global campaigners Rewriting Extinction, the Stories to Save the World digital gallery, sponsored by DUG, will demonstrate the powerful actions we can take to make a difference to our planet by harnessing the power of storytelling. Through a series of live comics that focus on species extinction and biodiversity, curated by double Emmy-nominated writer, producer and founder Paul Goodenough, Rewriting Extinction will share simple ways in which we can act and make a difference to save the planet.
Visitors will also be able to become enshrined in their own comic in a live selfie wall, allowing users to be their own comic lead.
Art & Imagination
Creativity and wellbeing are intrinsically linked, and the festival is bursting with artists, poets, photographers and creatives as well as the latest trends, ideas, innovations and concepts in how to live well.
Conceptual artist and poet Robert Montgomery will be creating a powerful piece of word art installed in the iconic Coal Drops Yard, that will reflect current times and the way we live for festival goers and the community to enjoy.
Storytelling journal SOULKIND will also feature a series of their powerful portraits in a live outdoor gallery, celebrating tales of human endeavour, exploration and resilience.
Alongside this will also be a gallery of the inspirational quotes of ‘Love’, ‘London’ and ‘Real-life heroes’ from the much-loved London underground duo All On The Board aka Jeremy Chopra and Ian Redpath.
Making art accessible to everyone, Sophie Tea, one of the most disruptive and in-demand artists of our generation will showcase her bold colours and thought-provoking messages in a live piece of art she will be creating in our Terrace courtyard, over the festival weekend. This exclusive event will give visitors the chance to see themselves and the world in a new perspective.
Social Spaces
Life Lessons will create a sense of togetherness, community and fun, by creating a variety of areas across the festival, to encourage visitors to connect, share, socialise and be entertained.
Through interactive photography and story-sharing features, live podcast recording, to pop-up bars, food stalls and an Around Town programme in partnership with local venues and retailers, Life Lessons Festival 2022 will provide opportunities to connect and share in our social spaces.
The Retreat Lounge, a calm sanctuary where festival goers can take a moment away from the hustle and bustle to relax, reconnect and reflect.
The Terrace will offer a chance to refuel after busy talks, while at The Supernacular Bar you can experience taste sensations from flavour consultant Jack Sotti. Or, for an alfresco option, The Garden will be a dedicated area on Lewis Cubitt Park perfect for picnics and relaxing between talks and experiences.
Luxury automotive partner Lexus will also host a dedicated space celebrating the ancient Japanese concept of ‘Takumi’, featuring the art of craftsmanship.
Around Town
There will also be a host of free Around Town events from local vendors and retailers, as well as pop-ups showcasing the newest innovations, concepts and techniques in the world of wellbeing.
The Lifestyle Lab at The Fore will be offering free workshops tackling everyday stresses of modern life, from insomnia to stress and burnout. Breathwork master Stuart Sandeman, movement specialist Roger Frampton and the innovative FaceGym among others, will be on hand delivering tasters of their ground-breaking methods to help visitors live optimally.
The Happiness Lab at The Frame will see a host of movement workshops across the three days, embracing happiness through movement and exercise making exercise achievable for everyone. With workshops encouraging mindful eating, body positivity and finding your voice, Frame will celebrate every-(beautiful)- body.
Life Lessons Festivalis celebrating storytelling and its power to create culture and community by working with global icons, experts, creatives and brand-leaders to share inspiring short films at this year’s festival in partnership with the Everyman Cinema at their Screen on the Corner.
Whether searching for inspiration, wanting to learn from experts or simply fancy rejuvenating your life the Times+ Life Lessons Festival will enlighten, entertain and engage all who visit, in a truly spectacular setting.
Tickets are available now. You can purchase a Standard Entry Ticket for £20, allowing access to all festival spaces, two immersive experiences, art installations and social spaces, as well as benefiting from local discounts and offers in a digital goodie bag, then curate your day by adding the Main Stage, In Good Compny and Masterclass session starting from £15 at lifelessonsfestival.com
This year’s programme and full line-up can be seen on the website lifelessonsfestival.com
www.kingscross.co.uk
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