The fifteenth century was a turbulent age: the Hundred Years War between England and France, and the Wars of the Roses dominated the lives of people both inside and out of the royal courts. Joan of Navarre, Katherine of Valois, Margaret of Anjou, Elizabeth Wydeville and Anne Neville were the queens who stood by England’s sovereigns, caught up in wars that changed the course of their lives, and the course of history. They were also formidable women who defied the limitations of their times, often living out the brutal consequences of their determination. Alison Weir has been described by the Sunday Times as the ‘Queen of history writing’.
Alison Weir
Queens at War: England’s Medieval Queens
Dates, times & booking
- Wed 15 Jul 2026 3.00pm - 4.00pm
Friends get priority booking on a staggered basis
About Friends Priority Booking
About Friends Priority Booking
Priority Booking
for BIF Friends
To book seats early, join the Friends of Buxton International Festival and become part of our ‘Festival Family’
Tickets are now on sale for La traviata, The Merry Widow and the Jazz Weekender
All other events are on general sale from 14 April 2026
Priority dates are:
17 March – Directors Circle, Benefactors and Gold Patrons
24 March – Patrons
31 March – Gold Friends
7 April – Friends
14 April – Public and Next Gen
Joining our community and becoming a BIF Friend unlocks a whole host of benefits, including priority booking for the festival.
From just £36 per year, become part of the festival you love all year-round.
- Priority booking for all festival events
- Six tiers of membership starting from just £36
- Regular newsletters during the year – via email/post
- Be the first to hear exclusive festival news & announcements
- Special friends events throughout the year: meals, dinners, recitals and more
- Support from friends members have enabled us to grow into one of the UK’s leading opera festivals
- Recognition of your support in the Festival Souvenir Programme Book
If you are under 35 you can join the Next Gen Friends for free, and access £5 tickets to book events and £10 tickets to all other events.





