I attended An Evening with Dawn O’Porter at The Kenton Theatre as a guest of Experience Henley. The event was a fundraiser for the Kenton, a theatre that holds a special place in my heart. Like many local families, I have fond memories of taking my children there for Christmas pantomimes over the years. During the evening, Dawn admitted she had fallen for the intimate charm of the Kenton and was keen to bring her own children to future productions. It’s easy to see why. As one of the country’s oldest theatres, it offers a unique atmosphere that larger venues simply can’t replicate.
I must confess that Dawn O’Porter had never really been on my radar before this event. However, thanks to The Bell Bookshop kindly supplying me with an advance copy of her new memoir, Hungry Eyes, I quickly found myself hooked. Much like the book, the evening centred around food, family, memory and the experiences that shape us. Dawn spoke openly about losing her mother at the age of six, living with her grandparents and spending summers with her father before moving in with an aunt and uncle whose lives revolved around cooking, entertaining and gathering around the table. Hearing her describe those formative years made me reflect on my own upbringing, where meal times were equally important.
My husband, who grew up in a household of TV dinners and microwave meals, embraced my family’s traditions so wholeheartedly that he now insists we all sit down together for dinner. Like Dawn, I believe it’s one of the most important parts of family life; a time to connect, communicate and simply be together.
One story that particularly resonated with me was Dawn’s quest to recreate her aunt’s treasured family recipes, only to discover that many of them were actually Delia Smith recipes. It reminded me of my own grandmother. Shortly before she passed away, I remember desperately asking for her famous Christmas pudding recipe, only to discover that her handwritten notes revealed it was Delia’s recipe too. To this day, I joke that Delia stole my Nonny’s Christmas pudding recipe!
Food was a recurring theme throughout the evening and there were plenty of moments that struck a chord. Dawn’s love of panettone certainly resonated with me, particularly when she spoke about turning it into bread and butter pudding. It’s one of my festive favourites too, although in our house we add Nutella and ginger-orange marmalade for an extra chocolate-orange hit at Christmas.
Of course, there were plenty of laughs along the way. Dawn spoke affectionately about her husband, Chris O’Dowd, including the memorable wedding gift of having the word “Munchies” tattooed on her bottom. There were stories involving family life, celebrity friends, lavish dinners and entertaining guests, all delivered with such warmth and self-deprecating humour that the audience felt less like spectators and more like old friends gathered around a kitchen table.
Alongside the humour and entertaining stories, there were also moments that highlighted Dawn’s compassion and determination to make a difference. She spoke about the creation of Choose Love, the humanitarian organisation she helped establish after watching news reports about refugees in Calais with friends, including the late Caroline Flack. Rather than simply feeling helpless, they decided to act. Dawn described how a single social media post led to an overwhelming response, with donations of blankets, clothing and medical supplies arriving almost immediately, alongside offers of practical support from businesses willing to help transport aid. It was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when ordinary people come together with a shared purpose and refuse to look the other way.
The evening concluded with a lively Q&A session. Dawn answered questions with remarkable honesty, discussing everything from her favourite item of clothing – a beautiful vintage Ossie Clark dress that she admits cost a fortune but has more than earned its keep over the years despite a now-yellowing hem – to her favourite cuisine.
When asked my go-to dinner party question, “If you could only eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?”, she chose French food, explaining that it reminded her of her aunt’s cooking, although good pub grub came a close second.
There was, however, one question she politely declined to answer: “What’s the naughtiest thing you’ve ever done?” Considering she had already shared stories that included participating in a naked commune experience for a television programme, one can only wonder what remained untold!
What struck me most was Dawn herself. Warm, witty, intelligent and wonderfully down-to-earth, she made a packed theatre feel as though we were simply sharing a cup of tea and a chat. The intimacy of the Kenton provided the perfect setting for an evening that was insightful, funny and deeply human.
It was a pleasure to meet Dawn afterwards and have my copy of Hungry Eyes signed. She even complimented the vintage dress I wore in her honour, which rather made my evening. The signed book will soon be given away as an Experience Henley prize – although I do hope the winner forgives the slightly worn pages, as I’m determined to finish reading it before handing it over!
A thoroughly enjoyable and well-attended evening, all in support of a very worthy cause. My thanks to Dawn, The Bell Bookshop, Experience Henley and everyone at The Kenton Theatre for a memorable night.
Words: Emma Tallent
Win a signed copy of Hungry Eyes by Dawn O’Porter
Simply fill in your name and email address for a chance to win a signed copy of Dawn O’Porter’s latest book Hungry Eyes. The competition closes at midnight on Wednesday 24th June 2026.
