Calling All Lightning Talkers!
Archives After Hours: Ada Campe Dallies in the Stacks
An evening of Music Hall, archives, cabaret and entertainment, featuring a bespoke performance by the award-winning variety artiste Ada Campe, a display of original archive material, a bar, and a few fast-paced talks celebrating London's remarkable entertainment heritage.
Date: Thursday 15 October 2026, c. 6.00-8.30pm
We're looking for a handful of speakers to deliver lightning talks of no more than 5–7 minutes on subjects inspired by London's Music Hall, variety theatre, popular entertainment and nightlife in the early twentieth century. Chosen speakers will receive a modest fee and their ticket for the event, along with a complementary drink.
What sort of topics are we interested in?
Almost anything that captures the spirit of London's entertainment world during this period, particularly where it can be linked to Music Hall and to collections held at The London Archives.
Possible themes might include:
- Music Hall stars, forgotten performers and theatrical personalities
- London's theatres, music halls, variety palaces, nightclubs and picture houses
- The suffrage movement and women on the stage
- The working woman in popular entertainment
- Flappers, dancers and changing fashions
- Empire, patriotism and culture
- Irish identity
- War, memorialisation, veterans and "Homes for Heroes"
- London's nightlife and leisure culture
- Film's increasing appearance on the variety bill
- Gender impersonation and drag performance
- Advertising, posters and publicity and fame
- Art Nouveau and Art Deco design
- Popular songs and social commentary
- Theatre architecture, stagecraft and technical advances
- Curious, amusing or unexpected stories uncovered through archival research
What sort of talks are we looking for?
This is not intended to be a formal academic conference.
We're looking for talks that are:
- Engaging
- Accessible
- Entertaining
- Informative
- Characterful
Think less lecture theatre and more Music Hall spirit.
Whether your topic concerns a famous performer, a curious newspaper story, an overlooked building, a remarkable document, an ancestor who trod the boards, or a fascinating corner of London's theatrical life, we'd love to hear from you.
Collections Matter
We are especially interested in talks that make use of material held at:
- The London Archives
- Related collections and repositories connected with London's music hall and entertainment history
Contributors do not need to be professional historians, academics or performers. Enthusiasts, researchers, local historians and collectors are all warmly encouraged to apply.
Interested?
Please send us:
- A proposed title
- A brief summary (around 150–200 words)
- A few words about yourself
Successful talks should fit comfortably within five to seven minutes. Please ensure submissions are with us by the 31 August 2026.
So dust off your notes, programmes, postcards, playbills, song sheets, photos and theatrical anecdotes and join us, and Ada Campe, for an evening celebrating the vibrant world of London's Music Hall and entertainments spaces.
Because every good Music Hall bill needs a few extra turns.