Mary Beard: talking classics

What's exciting about a 4,000-year-old piece of bread? Or some pots of paint abandoned in the eruption at Pompeii? Why should we be bothered with the distant past anyway? What's the point?

Renowned historian Mary Beard returns to the stage for one night only to answer these questions and more. Fresh from launching her new podcast Instant Classics and following her sold-out 2025 tour, Mary invites you into a conversation about why the classical world still matters.

After half a century of teaching and studying the ancients, Mary has collected a treasure trove of lively stories, curious facts, and some good gossip. From revolutionaries to dictators, Bob Dylan to Beyoncé, she joins forces with the varied modern characters who have been transfixed by the ancient world.

Drawing on her brand-new book Talking Classics: The Shock of the Old, Mary shares why it's not compulsory to be excited by antiquity, but it really is a shame not to be. There'll be time for your questions too, because the best conversations about classics are the ones we have together.

Hosted by Professor of Global History at Oxford University and author of The Silk Roads, Peter Frankopan, discover surprising parallels, challenge what you thought you knew, and explore why the deep past does really affect us all.

Booking information

To book tickets, please visit the FANE website.

This event has not been organised by the Society. If you have any questions or require assistance with your booking please contact the event organiser via info@fane.co.uk

Accessibility at our events

We want everyone to feel welcome at our events. Key accessibility features of this event include:

• Step-free access to the event
• Accessible toilets
• Assistance dogs are welcome
• Hearing loop

For full details, please visit our accessibility page. If you have any questions or specific access requirements, feel free to get in touch with us on access@rgs.org