A SERIES of talks aiming to smash preconceptions about ageing and instead making women in their middle age more visible is to be held at Chester's Storyhouse.

Crunchy Talks: Tales From Midlife Journeys will be held in the Central Theatre on Thursday, June 6 and will feature a panel of inspirational women from different backgrounds.

Part of the Storyhouse Women annual programme, the positive event is being held to challenge stereotypes and tackle age discrimination.

Led by lifestyle journalist Michela Di Carlo, founder of crunchytales.com – a digital illustrated magazine 'for those ladies who don't let age define them', the event wants to help women rethink the way they approach midlife.

Speakers include Emma Rees, professor of literature and gender studies at the University of Chester and director of the Institute of Gender Studies; Raluca Radulescu, professor in medieval literature at Bangor University and director of the Centre for Arthurian Studies; Valentina Harris, celebrity chef and award-winning author, and former President of the London chapter of Les Dames D'Escoffier.

Completing the panel are Vinitra Mishra, consultant in clinical biochemistry and metabolic medicine in the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust, and Izzy Grey, hospitality guru and PR whiz.

  • Tickets for the event, which starts at 7pm, is expected to last just over two hours and includes a Q&A session, cost £5 and can be booked at www.storyhouse.com/event/crunchy-tales.