Replay the Night of Ideas 2025

Books & Ideas

The theme of this year’s Night of Ideas, Taking Action, invited us to reflect on the ability of governments, civil society and individuals to respond effectively to the world’s geopolitical disorder. It also questioned the growing polarisation within our societies and the frailty of social contracts in democratic heartlands.

Hélène Duchêne, French Ambassador to the UK, Thomas Jolly, Artistic Director of the 2024 Olympic Games ceremonies and Alexander Zeldin, writer and director for theatre and film, opened the Night of Ideas on 6 February 2025. They were joined by 30 leading experts, including former French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna.

Some of the debates are available to watch online as well as exclusive interviews and best of videos (see below).

Replay the Night of Ideas!

Best of the Night of Ideas 2025

 

Focus on the Keynote Speakers

 

Thomas Jolly: Selected clips with subtitles

 

Alexander Zeldin: Selected clips with subtitles

 

 

Full Address by Thomas Jolly

 

 

Full Address by Alexander Zeldin

 

Guests’ Interviews

 

How can we encourage more meaningful conversations across ideological divides?

 

What’s your best advice to taking action?

 

 

Replay the Debates

 

Opening event

  • HE Hélène Duchêne, French Ambassador to the UK, launched the Night of Ideas 2025.
  • Opening address by Thomas Jolly, actor and stage director, Artistic Director of the 2024 Olympic Games ceremonies, and Alexander Zeldin, writer and director for theatre and film.
  • Followed by a conversation with Thomas Jolly and Alexander Zeldin, chaired by Anissia Morel, Director of the Institut français du Royaume-Uni. Interpreter: Axelle Oxborrow 

 

 

Europe at war?

With:

  • Catherine Colonna – Former French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs
  • Sir John Holmes – Former British Diplomat
  • Anand Menon – Director of UK in a Changing Europe

Chaired by Marie Dumoulin – Director of the Wider Europe programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations

 

 

Ukraine wartime artists: narratives and national identity

With:

  • Maria Kulikovska, Artist, architect and actionist-performer
  • Sergiy Lebedynskyy – Photographer and curator
  • Emeric Lhuisset – Artist and researcher

Chaired by Alexandra de Viveiros – Owner and founder of Alexandra de Viveiros Gallery

 

Activism by all means

With:

  • Juliette Brown – Consultant psychiatrist and activist
  • Graeme Hayes – Professor of Political Sociology at Aston University
  • Rosalie Mann – Founding President of No More Plastic

Chaired by Lisa Vanhala – Professor of Political Science at UCL

 

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