“Bristol Harbour Festival is one of the UK’s biggest free festivals – and bringing such powerful names to the Expression Stage reflects Bristol’s commitment to celebrating diversity of thought and voice.” said Leader of Bristol City Council, Tony Dyer. “Highlighting these issues on such a huge platform in Bristol is exactly what we need to be doing. It’s about openness, access and truth – all free to the public because our city believes in lifting these conversations up.”
Events - Press Releases - Promoting
Bristol Harbour Festival partners with Good Law Project to bring national icons Carol Vorderman and Ella Morgan to the Expression Stage
A groundbreaking day of activism, artistry and identity to take over Millennium Square - presented by Good Law Project, Diverse Artists Network and Bristol Legacy Foundation
02/07/2025
The 2025 edition of the Bristol Harbour Festival is set to deliver its most powerful programme to date, as the Expression Stage at Millennium Square returns on Sunday 20th July with a line-up that blends activism, urgent social commentary and cultural expression. Curated in collaboration with Good Law Project as well as Diverse Artists Network and Bristol Legacy Foundation, the Expression Stage will feature major national names. Festival goers can expect to see presenter and campaigner Carol Vorderman and award-winning trans activist Ella Morgan alongside a host of emerging talents and community voices from across the South West.
Award-winning trans activist, Ella Morgan
The landmark partnership with Good Law Project will programme talks, discussions and panels featuring Ella Morgan, the first trans bride on Married at First Sight UK, who will share the stage alongside Jo Maugham KC – barrister, campaigner and founder of Good Law Project: a not-for-profit organisation that uses the law to protect the interests of the public. Their conversation will spotlight the trans experience in public life, the media and society at large, promising both vulnerability and empowerment.
“At Good Law Project, we believe in the power of lived experience to drive meaningful change. The Expression Stage is not just a platform – it’s a powerful amplifier for voices too often excluded from national conversations.” Jo Maugham, Founder and Director at Good Law Project said. “To speak openly about injustice, identity and systemic inequality in a space as public and vibrant as the Bristol Harbour Festival is both radical and necessary. This is about bringing real issues to mass audiences through the energy of culture and the authenticity of community.”
Green energy pioneer, Dale Vince
In the evening, the stage turns to political accountability with an unmissable panel featuring broadcaster and activist Carol Vorderman, Good Law Project founder Jo Maugham and green energy pioneer Dale Vince. Their session, titled “A Year of Holding Power to Account,” will reflect on political integrity, grassroots influence and the fight for democratic fairness.
Elsewhere in the programme and kicking off Sunday at 11:00am, the Bristol Legacy Foundation (BLF) will host a powerful workshop session featuring actor and singer Michelle Gayle, exploring what it means to be an effective ally in today’s social landscape. This powerful session will explore the true meaning of allyship through the lens of anti-racism, abolition and reparatory justice, featuring contributions from BLF Chair Asher Craig and international campaigner Nils Agger. Drawing on lived experience and practical frameworks, the discussion will challenge audiences to reflect on what it truly means to stand up, speak out, and build equitable partnerships that go beyond performative gestures.
This will be followed by a Spoken Word showcase presented by the Diverse Artists Network centered around the theme of DIASPORA!. Beginning with an introduction by drama facilitator and curator Hiba Elhindi, the spoken word session includes appearances from youth advocate Dayton Powell, genre-fluid rapper Gracie Akinkunmi and singer, songwriter and poetic performer Nia Bimkubwa, and continues with a mix of emerging and established voices presenting work rooted in identity, resilience and community.
Youth advocate, Dayton Powell
Vandna Mehta Co Founder at Diverse Artists Network, said: “The Expression Stage is a reminder that festivals aren’t just about entertainment – they’re about connection, culture and community. This line-up reflects the beauty and strength of Bristol’s diverse creative talent. We’re proud to work with artists who bring lived experience to the forefront, using spoken word, music and performance to ignite empathy and action, enabling diverse artists to be seen, heard and be paid!”
The afternoon will shift focus to climate justice with a workshop on water pollution led by Jo Bateman, a wild swimmer and right-to-swim campaigner taking legal action against South West Water, and Katrina McDonnell, gender equality activist and founder of Menstruation Matters. This is followed by a panel on protest rights featuring Gaie Delap, a retired teacher and climate activist imprisoned for her role in a Just Stop Oil blockade, Raj Chada, a leading criminal lawyer specialising in protest defence and Blue, a trans kids activist tackling transphobia from the Government and Media. These sessions aim to equip audiences with both the legal knowledge and emotional fuel to engage with today’s most pressing political issues.
The evening will come to a close with the Diverse Artists Network returning with a finale of spoken word performances by multidisciplinary artist Roxanna Vilk, electric hip hop poet Blaise Penny Kirkwood (iAM13E) and British/Chilean illustrator and writer Valentina Huxley, bringing the programme to an emotional and artistic crescendo.
With themes spanning environmental justice, gender identity, political transparency and creative resilience, the Expression Stage at Millennium Square positions itself not just as a platform for performance, but as a vital civic space. It invites audiences to listen, reflect and participate in conversations shaping our collective future.
For more information and updates on Bristol Harbour Festival, head to the website and follow the event on Facebook and Instagram.
Multidisciplinary artist, Roxanna Vilk
