MACCLESFIELD TALKS - 'A Tale of 45 years and a Beard' with Hugo Panayiotou

'Macclesfield Talks' invites you to come along to a series of storytelling events, where we gather together, to share our journeys and discover the threads that connect us in community.

‘A Tale of 45 years and a Beard’ with Hugo Panayiotou

At: The Wellbeing Space, 45 Pickford Street, Macclesfield. SK11 6HB
Date: Saturday 27th June 2026
Time: 7.00 pm - 9.30 pm

Join us on Saturday 27th June 7pm. Hugo Panayiotou will be coming to The Wellbeing Space to partake of the 'Macclesfield Talks' Series with his talk ‘A Tale of 45 years and a Beard'.

Hugo often describes himself as being on his sixth life, perhaps a quiet acknowledgement of a path that has been journeyed , that has unfolded and reformed in new ways. Hugo has always had a keen interest in wellbeing, health, exercise, martial arts, and the rhythm of physical practice while others moved differently through the world. This curiosity deepened into a study of the mind, leading him to study psychology at the University of Liverpool, guided by a long held calling to understand people and to walk alongside them through life’s complexities, with a view to becoming a therapist. Hugo’s life took a very different path over the years, and he found himself using his degree in various roles, at the heart of it, is a simple aim: a deep commitment to listening, to witnessing, helping people feel heard, supported, and able to move forward in their own way.

At the heart of Hugo’s story is his identity as a trans man, a journey of becoming that continues to shape how he sees, feels, and moves through the world. Having transitioned eight years ago, he carries a lived understanding of gender that reaches beyond surface definitions, speaking to the spaces between, the expectations placed upon us, and the truths we come to claim for ourselves. He has a unique insight into gender stereotypes and the vast difference between men and women and believes the gap is greater than you’d think. In this talk, Hugo will share parts of his unfolding story, offering reflections on identity, transition, and the often unseen distances between how we are perceived and who we know ourselves to be.

Grounded in his full and lively life, Hugo is a proud Dad to his energetic tween daughter, and his gorgeous Labradoodle shadow Buddie. Music is a huge part of his life and his identity, a keen musician who plays guitar and samba drums. Hugo enjoys keeping active at the gym or doing martial arts and loves being outdoors and anything nature related, alongside this he often finds himself juggling a few interests or projects all at once. Hugo cares deeply about LGBTQ+ inclusion and currently works as a TransPositive Link Worker for Body Positive. Hugo values kindness, curiosity, dignity and respect, his words invite us into a deeper listening, where understanding softens and connection becomes possible.

Come and join the conversation….

(if you are interested in sharing your story about living in Macclesfield please contact Jo at: jo@thewellbeingspace.org)

We are committed to making our events welcoming, inclusive and accessible for people. We especially welcome people from marginalised communities, including but not limited to LGBTQ+ people, black people, indigenous people  and people of colour, disabled people, and neurodivergent people. If there is anything we can do to make it easier for you to attend or participate whether related to physical access, sensory needs, communication preferences or anything else, please do contact us. email:jo@thewellbeingspace.org. We will do our best to make any changes or adjustments. (Please note the wellbeing space has one flight of stairs leading to the space.)