We will be closing Lesbian Visibility Week with a bang by screening the first episode of the equally ground breaking BBC TV adaptation from 2002, followed by Sarah Waters in conversation with Film and Events Curator, Caroline Seddon, and an audience Q&A. Sarah will also kindly be doing a book signing, with her other titles, and a personally curated selection of her favourites, for sale on the day from Gay’s The Word, the oldest LGBT bookshop in the UK.

Critically acclaimed and awarded upon its release, The New York Times wrote of Tipping the Velvet, “If lesbian fiction is to reach a wider readership, Waters is just the person to carry the banner.” However, some bookstores kept early copies shrink wrapped, with a sticker stating “Restricted to persons aged 18 and over.” Despite this, the release of Tipping, and its subsequent TV and theatre adaptations, has created a profoundly positive cultural impact during its 25 year career, coinciding with enormous changes in the lives of not just British lesbians and Queer women, but the wider LGBTQIA+ community and beyond. Not forgetting the tourist trade for the town of Whitstable in which the book is also set.

The book itself is set in the South of England during the 1890s, and tells a coming of age story about a young Oyster girl named Nan Astley, who falls in love with Kitty Butler, a stage performer and male impersonator. Nan joins Kitty in London, following her heart, which is quickly broken, and she finds herself drifting through the city, forced to use various, and nefarious, ways to support herself.

We will screen the first episode, then Sarah will be in conversation with Caroline, followed by a Q&A with the audience, and then book signing.

There are a limited number of special tickets that allow you to pre purchase of copy of Tipping The Velvet for the discounted price of £5.

Doors open at 13.30, for a 14.30 start. Seating is unallocated.

Refreshments will be available in our licensed cafe/bar.

TICKETS & PRICING

Tickets £10 (ALL SOLD OUT), plus 30 tickets at £15 for entrance + book.

Advance tickets may be purchased from Ticketlab. Tickets are NOT available on the door.