Kazuo Ishiguro and David Mitchell, Royal Festival Hall

Kazuo Ishiguro and David Mitchell are authors with a keen interest in the mysterious. In his most recent novel The Buried Giant (2015), his first since the Booker Prize-shortlisted Never Let Me Go, Ishiguro delved into the mythology of sub-Roman Britain, mining its folkloric potential. In the same year, Mitchell published Slade House, a novel which started life as a series of tweets before growing into a full-length ghost story, written in typically intricate, multi-layered fashion.

Although the two authors have never appeared in conversation before, they have a history of literary correspondence, and are well-acquainted with each other’s work. On stage at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, the duo will explore their approaches to writing, discussing the joys and challenges of the creative process. Accompanied by film excerpts and a carefully curated playlist, the duo will also touch on the wide range of influences that have informed their work.

Responsible for some of the most spellbinding literary fiction of the past few decades, both authors are masters of their craft. Make sure to get your tickets soon.