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 invited us to look at death differently.
After a personal loss brought her face to face with how awkwardly we react to dying, Erica set out to explore how other cultures approach it: with ritual, openness, and even joy.
Her journey took her to death festivals (deathtivals) in Mexico, Nepal, Sicily, Thailand, Japan, Madagascar and Indonesia. We got 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 gave us her own reflections on this challenging but important topic.
Read Are you still there?, Kay’s opening piece
Our singalongs
As usual, there were be four pop songs performed by our Sunday Assembly London band and reflecting today’s themes.
- A Whiter Shade of Pale – Procol Harum
- I Just Died in your Arms Tonight – Cutting Crew
- Who Knew – P!nk
- The Dead Dance – Lady Gaga
The lyrics were projected on screen and everyone was 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: Woodshop of Recycled Delights, 17th May
← Our previous assembly: Mind the Gap: Why Intergenerational Connection Matters now more than Ever, 19th April