ALSO Twixtmas 2020

Some things we’ve been pondering, we know science is an astounding achievement, but are we really any wiser than the ancients? And as science erodes faith must it also be a death knell for mythology? Bringing together the cutting edge of scientific research with our deep need for myth and wonder, live from Jerusalem’s Bar Ilan University, Professor Oren Harman will offer his brilliant reimagining of modern science and ancient mythology the subject of his book Evolutions, 15 Myths that Explain Our World.

Be Our Guest. Cook along with us before this session - and bring your food to the screen as we discuss the meaning and roots of generosity and hospitality with author and founder of Authors for Peace, Priya Basil. Priya will be drawing on her Indian, London and Kenyan roots and from Berlin, where she now lives, explaining the role unconditional hospitality could play in saving the world?

To slow the pace of climate change, the fossil fuel industry, the aviation sector and auto business have to be dismantled. Until recently that was thought impossible. But Covid019 shows that it is possible to shut businesses overnight, cut greenhouse gas emissions and pay people during a transition, showing part of a shimmering sustainable future that could be within our grasp. LIVE from Taiwan - Graeme Maxton and Bernice Maxton-Lee explain how.

We have an incredible line-up of DJs enhancing your late-night adventures at Twixtmas 2020. And with no genres left unturned and no songs out of bounds, they’ll be creating the perfect soundtracks to your festival experience. Dress up. Get down.

Something for the little ones. Join Frogprince Baby Music for the most lively under 5s music session you’ll have experienced. Stefano Antoci D’agostino leads a multi-instrumental set of nursery rhymes, movie soundtracks and folk, pop and rock classics. From Wheels on the Bus right the way through to Bowie and the Rolling Stones. A particular favourite of Ronnie the Toddler who likes to request The Bear Necessities and You’re Welcome from Moana.

2020 has been tough but Everything Isn’t Terrible, and to prove it we have therapist and respected mental health writer, Dr Kathleen Smith beaming in from Washington, DC to explain how her work can help us live a less anxious life.

Let's get this party started. Our big band sound will come from Tarsus who will get us moving to their blend of traditional, authentic, remixed and modern Eastern European and Russian music. Tarsus can get a party started if it's a party of (government to advise...)

To help us find our own way to effectively process the stress of this most unusual year, we’ve invited academic psychiatrist of the year, Prof. Carmine Pariante (Kings College London). He’ll explain what we need to know in this constantly developing area of brain research so we can all process and prepare for 2021.

Is your free will easily overcome? Magic Research Lab and Goldsmiths University of London’s, Alice Pailhès thinks you just might be! So she’ll be showing you how magicians are masters of manipulations and how their powerful ways of influencing our decisions can be hacked by those not wearing a black top hat or suspended in a glass box. Now that’s magic!

For centuries, we acted on an intuitive sense that we need communion with the wild to feel well. Now more scientific evidence is emerging to confirm nature’s place at the heart of our psychological wellbeing. So we’ve asked journalist and author of Losing Eden, Lucy Jones to steer us through the research to help us consider our indoor, disconnected from the natural world, lives anew.

Trees LIVE- don't miss our we-love-trees ALSO experience with the founder of The Street Tree and author of the acclaimed London is a Forest, Paul Wood.

We'll be presenting Margaret Heffernan's Twixtmas Lecture. Further details announced soon.

French showman Marcel Lucont - socially distant before it was cool, stars in ALSO Twixtmas with a suitably riotous variety show. With special guests chosen to reflect our theme of International Twixtmas and for what they can do on the very small screen - mix yourself a suitable cocktail and brave the front row for Cabaret Fantastique.

In Sweden, they are Kanelbulle, in Denmark Kanelsnegl, in Norway Kanelbolle. Whatever you decide to call them - you’ll be baking your own delicious cinnamon buns in ALSO’s cook-along-workshop with Jess and Liz from Wild Fermentary in this session designed to help you create some serious Scandinavian style for your twixtmas.

Think you can't dance, but want to give it a go? Looking for any excuse to dance from home? Whatever your reason, come and untangle your body in our LIVE digital dance workshop with the award-winning professional dance artist Jemima Hoadley who by the way has 23 years of practice working with getting people just like you to dance. No-one's gonna see - unless YOU put your moves on zoom.

How do jokes work? How can you be funny? How do you tell a joke? Head of Comedy at Also Festival, Alexis Dubus (“Very funny, quick-witted and exceedingly sharp” - British Comedy Guide, “Uniquely funny” The Scotsman, Edinburgh Fringe) has been writing and performing stand-up around the world for over 15 years. He will explain the secrets of creating a great joke in this fabulously entertaining and interactive session. Don’t miss it.

So Sarah McCartney has two superhero skills. She’s a yoga teacher AND the founder of perfume house 4160 Tuesdays. So, especially for us at ALSO this Twixtmas time we’ve asked her to bring both together to lead our Scented Twixtmas Yoga Session, with vials of perfume sent to the home of those of you who want to book on.

Many of us struggle with overthinking but rarely does this treat the stresses of our lives, instead we risk becoming overwhelmed. Metacognitive specialist Dr Pia Callesen author of Live More Think Less beams in from Denmark to explain her research into how we can take back control of our thinking processes.

Radio presenter, podcaster and journalist, Julia Raeside, is at Twixtmas 2020 to review of all the options to watch on TV - helping you curate your Twixtmas TV.

Come with us further into the forest, as we build on our big love for the Japanese art of Shinrin-Yoku - Forest Bathing. To do this we have invited the world's foremost expert in forest medicine and the author of Into the Forest: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness, Dr Qing Li to beam in from his University in Tokyo. Understand from this pioneer of this practise the proven health benefits of Forest Bathing and put your questions to him in this very special live-streamed event translated by Japanese translater Lindsay Whipp. And then start to plan your next forest walk...

Rachel McCormack author of Chasing The Dram: Finding the Spirit of Whisky is one of the most authoritative writers and broadcasters on whisky in the UK, and she’s at Twixtmas 2020 to run a hugely fun, and informative Scottish Whisky Tasting Masterclass. Join her and taste your way around Scotland via four different whiskies (sent to those who book on) and learn how to identify the highlands from the islands.

Immersive, interactive, and irresistible Cocoa Runners will tempt you to the small screen to try some of the best chocolate in the world. Indulge yourself in the science and art of tasting chocolate and discover the craft, the story and the people beaming in for this ultimate digital chocolate tasting.

We’re proud to be showcasing a new poem from Poets for Peace who bring poets together to break down barriers and promote social cohesion. They hope their words will touch upon your heart and help us all to see the beauty within every faith and community this Twixtmas time.

It’s the Twixtmas Papers. Our Festival tradition is returning for a special end-of-year edition. Broadcast star, Natalie Haynes hosts a News Review of the Year with a panel of comics (who else can make sense of 2020) including comedian, actor and writer, Robin Ince. Bring your coffee (you might need an Espresso Martini) and review the year in style with us.

Author, Refinery29, Stylist and Grazia journalist, thrift-lover and reformed fast fashion addict, Lauren Bravo will be talking us through some of the ethical, sustainable and fashion-friendly brands we need to know about. Whether your idea of fashion is a new cycling jacket or haute couture, we'll help you think smarter when it comes to your threads.

Get your black polo neck on as we go deep into books of the future with our books-in-progress Salon. Starring Bobby Duffy, Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Policy Institute at King's College London (we loved his book on perception and brilliantly titled, Why We Are Wrong About Nearly Everything) who has grappled with the ways generations think differently from each other and how this will play into the future; Tawseef Khan, a qualified solicitor specialising in immigration and asylum law and a human rights activist, who has explored what it means to be a Muslim today in his soon-to-be-released book The Muslim Problem: Why We’re Wrong About Islam And Why It Matters. Check back for other guests TBC.