Join Artist in Residence Ella Baron and author John O’ Farrell as they discuss how journalism, comedy and art coalesce in their political cartoons and satirical writing.

During her residency, Baron has drawn on Soane’s eclectic collection of architectural drawings and satirical prints, including those by Hogarth and Gillray, to inform the development of her debut graphic novel, INTERFACE. This event will be a unique opportunity to explore her work in progress, as Ella and John consider how satire can hold a mirror up to today to help determine tomorrow.

This is a wonderful opportunity to experience Sir John Soane's Museum after hours and end with a drinks reception in the South Drawing Room.

This event is now sold out.

About the speakers

Ella Baron is an award-winning political cartoonist and graphic novelist. She draws a regular political cartoon for The Guardian as well as contributing frequently to The Sunday Times and The Times. Her cartoons have also featured in The TLS, The FT, The Observer and The New Statesman. Ella was commissioned by the medical aid charity Médecins Sans Frontières to sketch in their field hospitals in Lebanon and South Sudan. These drawings were recently exhibited at The Cartoon Museum (London, 2023).  Solo exhibitions of Ella’s drawings have also been held at Christies and The French Cultural Institute. Ella has illustrated several books, and animated a documentary for The BBC.  She was an emerging writer in residence at The London Library and is a recipient of an Arts Council England Grant and a Society of Authors Grant. Ella is currently writing and drawing her debut graphic novel, ‘INTERFACE’ which is to be published by Virago in 2026. 

John O’ Farrell Is a multi-award winning author and comedy writer. He was a scriptwriter (and later panellist) on BBC’s Have I Got News For You, and a lead writer on 10 series of ITV’s Spitting Image. Non-fiction includes An Utterly Impartial History of Britain, the political memoir Things Can Only Get Better and its recent sequel, plus three collections of his satirical columns for The Guardian. Novels include The Best a Man Can Get, May Contain Nuts, and The Man Who Forgot His Wife. His books have been translated into over 30 languages and adapted for TV and BBC Radio. Other credits include Chicken Run, Murder Most Horrid, Smith & Jones. He has also co-written the book for the hit Broadway musical Something Rotten! (10 Tony nominations) and Mrs Doubtfire. Now co-host of the comedy history podcast We Are History, his most recent work includes the movie Chicken Run, Dawn of The Nugget, his sixth novel Family Politics, and his third musical Just For One Day, the Story of Live Aid for the Old Vic Theatre. 

About the event

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We are in a Grade I listed, 19th-century building, so access is not always straightforward. If you require step-free access or extra assistance, please contact us in advance of your booking on admin@soane.org.uk or 020 7405 2107.