Grantham is gearing up for a controversial centenary celebration of its most famous daughter, former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. A month-long programme of theatre, talks, music, and art will mark what would have been her 100th birthday on 13 October 2025.
Events begin 12 October across the town, with South Kesteven District Council partnering local groups to deliver what organisers are calling a “festival for all views” – whether celebrating the Iron Lady or challenging her legacy.
Packed Line-Up
Highlights include:
- Quite a Centenary – a sold-out evening with broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, celebrating Thatcher, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and Winnie the Pooh.
- Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho – the smash-hit musical comedy arrives 13 October.
- Edwina Currie in Conversation – the former Health Minister hosts two shows of political chat on 14 October.
- Behind the Bronze – Grantham Museum tells the untold story of Thatcher’s divisive statue, 15 October.
- The Incidental Feminist – journalist Tina Gaudoin discusses her new book on 18 October.
Adding fire to the mix, Grantham Labour will stage their own counter-event: a night of punk poetry, comedy, and music at Grantham Railway Club on 12 October.
Council: “Something for Everyone”
Cllr Ashley Baxter, Leader of South Kesteven District Council, said: “Baroness Thatcher is indisputably Grantham’s most famous daughter.
“The purpose of ThatcherFest is to mark her centenary and invite people to explore her legacy. From Edwina Currie to punk poet Attila the Stockbroker, there is something here for everyone – whether you remember her as the milk-snatcher or the Iron Lady.”
Local Roots, Global Impact
Born Margaret Roberts in Grantham in 1925, Thatcher rose from local grocer’s daughter to Britain’s first female Prime Minister, reshaping national and global politics in ways still fiercely debated today.
Tickets & Info
Events are selling fast, with bookings available via www.guildhallartscentre.com or the Guildhall Box Office. Additional exhibitions and free displays will run throughout October at venues including Grantham Library and Union Street Gallery.
