My Voice, My Body

• Date: 22 January
• Time: 19:30 - 21:00
• Location: Theater aan het Spui

This event takes place in Dutch.

In My Voice, My Body, internationally acclaimed authors Virginie Despentes, Leïla Slimani, and Pankaj Mishra speak out about the meaning of freedom of expression. Palestinian-Ukrainian peace ambassador and storyteller Zoya Miari also shares her perspective, representing the writers’ organisation PEN International. Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague, opens this festival edition with a speech.

Poet and musician Robin Block performs, accompanied by bassist and composer Bruno Ferro Xavier da Silva. Poet Lin An Phoa will read from her work.

Let's get physical

The 31st edition of the festival revolves around the body in literature. Under the motto Let’s get physical, we explore how writers and poets give the body a place in their work. In performances and conversations, the body becomes a source of desire, vulnerability, identity, and resistance.

We chose this theme because our bodies — and freedom of expression — are under increasing pressure. For this festival edition, we invite authors who have recently written about these issues. We discuss gender, violence, health, freedom, and sexuality. And we celebrate the body through stories, poetry, visual art, dance, and music.

Short film

The programme includes a screening of the short film Monument for murdered writers and journalists 2025, a project by Theatre of Wrong Decisions, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and PEN International.

My Voice, My Body is presented by Simone Zeefuik and curated for Writers Unlimited by Ilonka Reintjens.

Festival tips

Festival Tip 1

After My Voice, My Body at Theater aan het Spui, join the short spoken-word walk by Mensen Zeggen Dingen and Writers Unlimited Festival to GR8 (starting at 22:00), where you can enjoy the festive afterparty with poetry, poetry slam, prose, and punchlines. Tickets are available via PAARD.

Festival Tip 2

Virginie Despentes, Leïla Slimani and Pankaj Mishra also appear during the major festival evenings Friday Night Unlimited and Saturday Night Unlimited. Experience the full festival atmosphere and choose your own route through performances, readings, discussions, music, and films featuring many Dutch and international authors and artists.

Festival Tip 3

The British-Indian author Pankaj Mishra is the main guest for an interview about his new book The World after Gaza on Saturday afternoon, 24 January, 12:00–13:00, at Theater aan het Spui.

Show on map