
This is the story of Homo sapiens… us
Host of BBC landmark show ‘Human’, Ella Al-Shamahi, palaeoanthropologist, TV presenter, explorer and stand-up presents a talk on our remarkable origin story.
Once upon a time we shared this planet with many species of human – it has been said that our world was a bit like Lord of the Rings. To start with we Homo sapiens weren’t that remarkable, our origins were in fact rather humble and yet somehow today we are the only ones left. But we didn’t just survive against all odds, we thrived, innovated and travelled like no other species of human - becoming the explorer species who built cities, iPhones and painted the Sistine Chapel. Our success was profound, but how on Earth did it happen and at what cost?
Ella Al-Shamahi started studying evolution as a creationist and so she interweaves her own story demonstrating the power of tribalism not just in the past, but also in the present. Expect a talk that draws on the latest discoveries, heart, humour and wild expedition stories.
Al-Shamahi is a National Geographic Explorer specialising in searching for fossils in Palaeolithic caves in politically unstable, hostile and disputed territories. She is the presenter of HUMAN, a flagship BBC/PBS science series as well as other TV and radio shows. She is also author of a Times/Sunday Times book of the year ‘The Handshake: A Gripping History’
Reviews for Human BBC Two
The Guardian ★★★★★
“She is the best teacher you never had”
Financial Times ★★★★
“Infectious enthusiasm”
Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
---|---|
Standard | £21.00 |
Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.
Ella Al-Shamahi (28 June 2026) | ||
---|---|---|
Day | Times | |
Sunday | 19:30 |
The Embezzlers
The EMBEZZLERS are a 6 piece, 100% Live, SKA band based in Exeter,…
A cynical novelist and his new wife are haunted by the mischievous ghost of his first…
Formed in Exeter several years ago, and barely out of their teens, the band have already…
Niall McNamee is an Irish singer-songwriter and actor rapidly making a name for himself…
Kings of the Rave
A collaborative DJ project, featuring 3 of Old Skools best loved acts…
Ian Dury's redoubtable band return to pay tribute to their late, great frontman.
Session three:
Date: Tuesday 30th Sept
Time: 12-2pm
Venue: Rougemont Room, Exeter…
Logicaltramp bring their own unique approach to the music of Supertramp – playing…
Set in a near-future Tokyo where the threat of a catastrophic earthquake pervades daily…
6yrs + - Embrace this Spooky time of year. Work in pairs with a family member or friend…
"Experiment with textiles to explore embroidery, appliqué and quilting techniques to…
Join author and comedian Marc Burrows on a journey through the life and work of Sir Terry…
IAM
A new show about extinct, gigantic, charismatic megafauna from three-time Edinburgh…
Learn how to bring your films to life with Adobe After Effects’ industry animation and…
Exeter’s poetry platform presented by Alasdair Paterson and Liz Adams.
Each month we…
Recently Viewed