Joanna Pickering, Miriam Margolye and More Join Spoken Word Gala at Hay Festival

Hay Festival, the world-renowned literature festival, will host a star-studded celebration of the spoken word with Speaking Up for Success: A Spoken Word Gala on Friday 29 May 2026 at 5:30pm on the main Global Stage.

Artists from across the Hay Festival programme will perform pieces personal to them in an evening celebrating storytelling, poetry, and performance.

The inimitable Miriam Margolyes will take to the stage alongside Larry Lamb (Gavin & Stacey), Paterson Joseph (Wonka, Royal Shakespeare Company), children's author Cressida Cowell, and actress and playwright Joanna Pickering.

Pickering will perform an excerpt from her acclaimed one woman play Don't Harm the Animals, ahead of her full performances at the Bookshop Marquee. The play runs as a series of open-air performances directed by BAFTA-winning filmmaker Philip John (Downton Abbey, Outlander) on Thursday 28 May at 6pm, Friday 29 May at 7pm, Saturday 30 May 2026.

Don't Harm the Animals tells the story of a woman isolated at the top of a mountain and explores PTSD in the aftermath of sexual assault. The play examines the lack of understanding often given to victims and the impact of secondary re-victimisation. It first premiered at The Chain Theater in New York City, where it was described as "scorching writing" and "a powerhouse of a performance."

Joanna Pickering is a multi-award-winning British actress and playwright whose work focuses on strong female narratives and advocacy for women's rights. Her play Lara's Journey was recently live-streamed from New York City to more than one million viewers to raise awareness for Ukrainian refugees in partnership with activists including Nova Ukraine.

Director Philip John brings more than 25 years of experience across television and film. A BAFTA winner (Bang), and multi-nominee (Downton Abbey, Being Human) he has helmed many episodes of major series including ITV's Downton Abbey, Starz' Outlander, as well as Marvel's Iron Fist, Cloak & Dagger, and Runaways. His feature film credits include Wedding Belles and Moon Dogs, the latter earning multiple international festival awards. His upcoming film, The Long Way, is slated to begin production in 2026.