Sarah Cracknell in conversation with Helen Pike

We were delighted to welcome Sarah Cracknell, lead singer of the legendary indie band Saint Etienne, to Big School for a special evening in conversation with the Master, Helen Pike, as part of the 2026 Oxford Festival of the Arts.

Sarah formed Saint Etienne with Pete Wiggs and Bob Stanley in 1990, before the trio released their acclaimed debut album, Foxbase Alpha, the following year. Over more than three decades, the band has built a distinctive sound combining pop, dance and ambient music, with Sarah’s vocals becoming one of its most recognisable features.

It was fascinating to hear about Sarah’s life and career in music, from the beginnings of Saint Etienne to the creative partnership that has sustained the band for more than three decades. Helen expertly guided us through the different stages of Sarah’s career, exploring the relationships, experiences and creative process behind the band and its music.

Along the way, we discovered more about Sarah’s experiences as a musician and performer, as she shared personal insights and stories from her remarkable career. Sarah gave us a glimpse behind the scenes of life in Saint Etienne and the experiences that have shaped her music over the years.

We were pleased to see so many members of the School and wider community joining us for the evening. The audience listened with interest throughout and had the opportunity to put their own questions forward.

We would like to thank Sarah and Helen for such a lively and candid evening, and our photographer, Hugh Warwick for the lovely photos.