On Stage

I’m an accomplished and highly respected event chair, host and interviewer, which I’ve been doing since 2018.

Events I’ve worked on stage at include Cheltenham Literature Festival, Stratford Literary Festival, Gloucester History Festival, Stroud Book Festival, Cheltenham Science Festival, Norwich Science Festival, Dorchester Literary Festival, Cheltenham Poetry Festival, Lichfield Festival, Cuckfield Book Festival, Chelsea History Festival, Warwick Words History Festival, Chipping Norton Literary Festival, Guernsey Literary Festival, Chipping Campden Literature Festival, Gloucestershire Schools Heritage Conference and at the Apothecaries Hall in London for an International Women’s Day event.

I’m equally comfortable presenting virtual events such as the Discovery Day at Home for Dr Jenner’s House Museum & Garden in Berkeley in 2020 and for the Sturminster Newton Literary Festival in 2024, or hybrid events with a mix of guests in person and remote, for example the Forest Authors Festival with Reading the Forest in 2021.

I am also invited to curate events or strands for festivals. In 2024 I curated and presented a series of in conversation events at the Museum in the Park in Stroud, with a wide range of guests.

I can offer the following: Interviewing guests e.g. an author about their book; chairing panels on a variety of subjects or hosting/introducing speakers and acting as MC for the event.

Hosting a Gloucester Rugby Heritage Event

Chairing a panel for the Discovery Day at Home.

Hosting the Harvington History Festival at Harvington Hall, Kidderminster

Interviewing at the Chipping Norton Literary Festival

Interviewing at the Stratford Literary Festival

In conversation at the Norwich Science Festival

On stage at the Cheltenham Poetry Festival

On stage at the Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend

In conversation at the Guernsey Literary Festival

Chairing a crime fiction panel at the Guernsey Literary Festival

In conversation at the Savoy Theatre in Monmouth, for Rossiter Books

Presenting summer series at Museum in the Park, Stroud

Chairing a discussion at the Cheltenham Science Festival

In conversation at the Lichfield Summer Festival

Chairing a panel at Gloucester History Festival

On stage at Cheltenham Literature Festival

My favourite subjects are space, history (especially ‘hidden histories’), travel, health especially mental health & welling and psychology, myth busting – but I can turn my hand to most topics. In the past they’ve included crime thrillers, health, adventures, history, engineering, ecology, art and space.

Guests I’ve interviewed on stage include Roma Agrawal, Zeinab Badawi, Dr Jessica Barker, Dr Jackie Bell, Louis de Bernières, Dr Tracy Borman, Peter Brathwaite, Dallas Campbell, Prof Nandini Das, Susie Dent, Jonathan Dimbleby, Elise Downing, Dr Daisy Dunn, Richard Fisher, Sarah Franklin, Dr Jamie Gallagher, Melanie Golding, Prof Adam Hart, Dom Joly, Dr Chris Laoutaris, Helen Lederer, Claire Mackintosh, Rachel Marks, Dr Rebecca Nesbit, Penny Parkes, Shalina Patel, Prof Janina Ramirez, Jini Reddy, Gareth Russell, Dr Shini Somara, Andrew Taylor, Alison Weir, Kate Werran, and Kimberley Wilson.

See here for upcoming appearances and please contact me to find out how I can make your event or festival extra special.

Testimonials

Prof Adam Hart – Professor of Science Communication, Broadcaster & Author (‘The Deadly Balance’)

"Working with Jo is genuinely one of the best things I get to do. I've been involved with Beautiful Universe from the very start and the myth busting section we do has covered an incredible diversity of topics, from pandemics to bats! I've also done live events with her, like Norwich Science Festival, and her hosting and chairing skills are second to none."

Gareth Russell – Historian, Broadcaster & Author

“Jo Durrant was one of my favourite interviews of 2023. She was informed, funny, had a fantastic rapport with the audience, and she very much put myself and my fellow guest at ease. I’ve been interviewed by her twice, now, and she is one of the best in the business.”

Dr Rebecca Nesbit – Ecologist & Writer

“I met Jo when she chaired my session at Norwich Science Festival, which was a positive experience right from the first time she contacted me. Her warmth came across immediately, as did her deep interest in all the topics she explores. It made for an engaging session for me and the audience, and also led to other interesting conversations when she interviewed me for her podcast. I can definitely recommend her as a host and interviewer.”

Dr Helen Fry – Historian and Author

“Jo is a fabulous interviewer, relaxed and full of fun. She is deeply insightful on the subjects she is broadcasting on.”

Claire Mutimer – Producer: Norwich Science Festival

“Jo came to Norwich Science Festival to host panels and interview contributors. Jo was a delight to work with. She organised meeting all the panel contributors online in advance of the event and talked through their specialisms and made them feel at ease. At the festival Joanna was brilliant at interviewing scientists from a variety of specialisms and I received lots of feedback on how she brought the talks alive. I would highly recommend her and she is returning to Norwich Science Festival this February!”

Caroline Sanderson – Co-Director: Stroud Book Festival

"Jo is a fantastic chair - she's versatile, great to work with and always very thorough in preparing for events".