# Event Details

- **Event Name**:  An Evening with Michael Portillo: A Life of Two Halves
- **Event Start and End Date**: Tue, 27 Oct, 2026 at 07:30 pm (+00:00)
- **Event Description**: THE ANVIL

Secretary of State. Traveller. TV superstar. The inimitable Michael Portillo joins us live on stage to share funny, insightful, and poignant stories from his extraordinarily rich and varied life.

The son of a refugee who rose to become one of Britain’s leading politicians and best loved broadcasters, Michael Portillo’s life has been a game of two halves. As a statesman he served under Margaret Thatcher, ran for the leadership of the Conservative Party, and lost his seat in one of the most famous moments in British political history, only to become one of the nation’s favourite broadcasters, sparring with Diane Abbott and Andrew O’Neill and enthralling millions of us with his travels on the world’s greatest railways.

In this stage show, Michael will share his life story, from his late father’s experiences of the Spanish Civil War and escape to England, where he and Michael’s mother met while looking after refugee children, all the way to his present-day adventures travelling across Spain, the USA, India, and beyond.

We’ll hear Michael’s funny and insightful observations about his old boss Margaret Thatcher and his reflections on the decay of political power. He’ll tell us about his break into TV – including the time he became a single mum… And, of course, we’ll hear about the great railway journeys he has undertaken and what they can tell us about the history and state of the world today.

Whether you are passionate about politics or a fan of Michael’s many international adventures, this is an unmissable treat. All aboard!
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/basingstoke/an-evening-with-michael-portillo-a-life-of-two-halves/200029799207812
- **Event Categories**: workshops, trips-adventures, parties, entertainment
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 16

## Ticket Details


## Event venue details

- **city**: Basingstoke
- **state**: EN
- **country**: United Kingdom
- **location**: The Anvil, Churchill Way, Basingstoke, RG21 7QR, United Kingdom
- **lat**: 51.26677
- **long**: -1.08961
- **full address**: The Anvil, Churchill Way, Basingstoke, RG21 7QR, United Kingdom

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: An Evening with Michael Portillo: A Life of Two Halves
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/fb4c41a85a708ba00d7915d06dd43ffb045b57d585a17c2b0941c4779d0ed257-rimg-w1120-h706-dc385878-gmir?v=1788275824

## FAQs

- **Q**: When and where is  An Evening with Michael Portillo: A Life of Two Halves being held?
  - **A:** An Evening with Michael Portillo: A Life of Two Halves takes place on Tue, 27 Oct, 2026 at 07:30 pm to Tue, 27 Oct, 2026 at 07:30 pm at The Anvil, Churchill Way, Basingstoke, RG21 7QR, United Kingdom.
- **Q**: Who is organizing  An Evening with Michael Portillo: A Life of Two Halves?
  - **A:** An Evening with Michael Portillo: A Life of Two Halves is organized by Anvil Arts.
- **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me?
  - **A:** An Evening with Michael Portillo: A Life of Two Halves is ideal for comedy fans, stand-up enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a dedicated session of curated laughs, professional acts, and sharp wit from seasoned performers. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Basingstoke, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If  An Evening with Michael Portillo: A Life of Two Halves sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast.

## Structured Data (JSON-LD)

```json
[
    {
        "@context": "https://schema.org",
        "@type": "Event",
        "name": "An Evening with Michael Portillo: A Life of Two Halves",
        "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/fb4c41a85a708ba00d7915d06dd43ffb045b57d585a17c2b0941c4779d0ed257-rimg-w1120-h706-dc385878-gmir?v=1788275824",
        "startDate": "2026-10-27T19:30:00+00:00",
        "url": "https://allevents.in/basingstoke/an-evening-with-michael-portillo-a-life-of-two-halves/200029799207812",
        "eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled",
        "location": {
            "@type": "Place",
            "name": "The Anvil, Churchill Way, Basingstoke, RG21 7QR, United Kingdom",
            "address": {
                "@type": "PostalAddress",
                "name": "The Anvil, Churchill Way, Basingstoke, RG21 7QR, United Kingdom",
                "addressLocality": "Basingstoke",
                "addressRegion": "EN",
                "addressCountry": "GB"
            },
            "geo": {
                "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
                "latitude": "51.26677",
                "longitude": "-1.08961"
            }
        },
        "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode",
        "description": "THE ANVIL\n\nSecretary of State. Traveller. TV superstar. The inimitable Michael Portillo joins us live on stage to share funny, insightful, and poignant stories from his extraordinarily rich and varied life.\n\nThe son of a refugee who rose to become one of Britain’s leading politicians and best loved",
        "organizer": [
            {
                "@type": "Organization",
                "name": "Anvil Arts",
                "url": "https://allevents.in/org/anvil-arts/6194999",
                "description": "Anvil Arts runs The Anvil, The Haymarket and The Forge in Basingstoke. It is the largest performing arts organisation in Hampshire, serving a region which stretches across central southern England."
            }
        ]
    }
]
```