Lauren Crisp is a book editor, writer and keen follower of arts and culture. Born and raised in Harrogate, Lauren recently moved back to North Yorkshire after a stint in London, where she regularly reviewed theatre – everything from big West End shows to small fringe productions. She is now eager to explore the culture on offer in and around her home town.  You can contact Lauren on laurencrispwriter@gmail.com

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After almost a decade living in London, I recently returned to live in my home town of Harrogate. Now thirty-something (and lacking the stamina of my teenage years), I’m looking for new ways to enjoy the town; I’m reacquainting myself with it, with more mature eyes. I’m on a cultural recce of the north, of sorts, to continue where I left off in London. My first foray came in the form of Berwins Salon North, on Thursday evening.

Billed as ‘TED-style talks exploring the most stimulating ideas in art, science and psychology’, the concept was originally launched by Helen Bagnall, in the big smoke, as Salon London. A trio of speakers, each an expert in their field, take to the stage for 25-minute slots, broken up with audience question time, and short intervals, for a top-up of wine.

Bagnall brought the concept to Harrogate, introducing the northern equivalent as part of Harrogate International Festivals’ cultural calendar, and it was clear, as I settled into my seat in the packed-out Victoria suite at the Crown Hotel, that the people of Harrogate are as ready as any Londoner to lap up this kind of evening’s entertainment.

The first of Thursday’s speakers was Sally Adee, an award-winning science writer with some pretty cool credentials. Her book, We Are Electric, is an exploration of the body’s ‘electrome’; she described how every living cell has a voltage, much like a tiny battery, each with a particular purpose. It’s fascinating stuff, destined, according to Adee, to transform science and medicine as we know it. Her passion was just as electric; anecdotal and digestible, it was the perfect starter for 10 for even the most unscientific minds (like mine).

Musician and writer Oliver Condy was up next, ready to prescribe classical music for any malaise. He described writing his book, Symphonies for the Soul, over the course of the covid lockdowns; while at his most isolated, it was classical music that provided the strength and solace to help him through. Whether you’re feeling angry, anxious, or want to be transported to another time or place: there’s a piece of music for that. Condy hypnotised his audience with snippets of some of his favourites, demonstrating the magical role music plays in connecting us with ourselves and others. Uplifting and engaging, I’m off to read his book and listen to some Rachmaninoff.

Another Oliver was the third and final guest: Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks, a title that refers to the average human lifespan, a potentially anxiety-inducing notion. Eek – really? Four thousand weeks in which to make the very most of our lives; to achieve all that we want to and more? In a world driven by compulsion towards productivity and goals, where does it end? You’ll be pleased to hear that Burkeman turns the idea of time management completely on its head – but I won’t ruin the ending. With humour and empathy, Burkeman had the room enthralled, in stitches, and, I’m certain, inspired.

Forget a night down the pub, or an evening in front of the TV – Salon North hits the sweet spot: a social, friendly evening, refreshingly unstuffy and accessible, curated with thought and craft. I came away feeling just a little bit smarter – and who doesn’t love that?



The next Salon North, 'Rethinking Modern Britain', is on July 6 - for more information click here. 

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