This Party’s Dead: a Journey to Seven of the World’s Death Festivals

11:00 am, May 3 2026

Backyard Comedy Club, Bethnal Green

Speaker: Erica Buist

Poet: Kay Scorah

Guest speaker: Erica Buist

To mark Dying Matters Awareness Week 2026 (4th-10th May), writer and journalist Erica Buist will invite us to look at death a little differently.

After a personal loss brought her face to face with how awkwardly we talk about dying, Erica set out to explore how other cultures approach it: with ritual, openness, and even joy.

Her journey took her to death festivals in Mexico, Nepal, Sicily, Thailand, Japan, Madagascar and Indonesia. We’ll get to see and hear what she experienced: reminders that by facing endings together, we can live more fully, and maybe even find moments of laughter along the way.

Guest poet: Kay Scorah

The ideal complement to any Sunday Assembly London speaker, our own Kay Scorah will give us her own reflections on this challenging but important topic.

Our singalongs

As usual, there will be four pop songs performed by our Sunday Assembly London band and reflecting today’s themes. You’ll find out which ones at the assembly, or you may spot clues on our social media…

The lyrics will be projected on screen and everyone’s welcome to sing (and dance) along.

About Sunday Assembly London

Sunday Assembly London is your regular and reliable stop for a welcoming, accessible and inspiring Sunday community, where you can hear talks and poetry, sing songs and make new friends.

Stay after for tea, biscuits, and chat in the Backyard Comedy Club. Then join us for a local meal, picnic, or a drink and card games at the pub.

→ Our next assembly: 17th May
← Our previous assembly: Mind the Gap: Why Intergenerational Connection Matters now more than Ever, 19th April

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