Oundle Festival of Literature
Date Published: 25/01/10
An exciting programme running from 6-20 March 2010
Highlights of the Oundle Festival of Literature’s eighth programme, which will run from 6 - 20 March, 2010 include presenter of Woman’s Hour for more than 20 years, Jenni Murray; eminent military historian, Sir Max Hastings providing new perspectives on Winston Churchill, one of our finest and most intelligent actresses, Diana Quick unpeeling the secrets of her family history in A Tug on the Thread and the bubbly, voluble, supremely self-confident, bitingly truthful and sensationalist bon viveur, film director, Sunday Times columnist and scourge of rip-off restaurants, Michael Winner.
We also look forward to welcoming Adam Foulds, whose exceptional novel about John Clare, The Quickening Maze, was shortlisted for the 2009 Man Booker prize. Shakespeare on Toast with actor and scholar Ben Crystal knocks the stuffing from the staid old myth of Shakespeare, revealing the man and his plays for what they really are: modern, thrilling, uplifting drama. In his autobiography, linguist David Crystal casts a humorous eye over a career of dangerous encounters – kidnapping and assassination, assault and murder, bribery and corruption, belly-dancers and red-light districts, revolutions and spies. Former Director of the London School of Economics, Lord Anthony Giddens, discusses his important new book The Politics of Climate Change, and in her authoritative new biography, art historian Frances Spalding conjures the exuberantly creative life of John and Myfanwy Piper, with Piper’s first stained glass commission providing a stunning backdrop to her talk. Drawing on the private correspondence and other hitherto unpublished material from the Royal Archives for his authorized biography, William Shawcross vividly reveals the qualities that endeared Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, to those who knew and loved her personally and to the nation as a whole.
During our first ever Readers’ Day there will be a mini festival all in one day, giving you the opportunity to share your reading enthusiasms with others, a chance to talk to authors about their work and what they like to read, and discover new ideas for your own reading. There will be group sessions with individual authors including Sophie Hannah, JoJo Moyes, Jake Arnott and Stella Duffy and panel discussions chaired by John Siddique, a poet, lecturer and extraordinary teacher with a passion for sharing and promoting literature. Booking is essential.
Fun events for families and children include a cartooning workshop and talk by comic book creator Tim Quinn, the man who personally knows Beryl the Peril, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Korky the Cat, the Incredible Hulk and so many more. Children’s author, Michael Lawrence, author of the Jimmy McCue series presents, Rudie Dudie, the newest book about the boy to whom weird and wacky things seem to happen. Poet Murray Lachlan Young presents a sensational mix of rock and roll ‘n’ poetry, stand-up comedy, storytelling and a touch of panto, showing that poetry can be raucous, fun, thought-provoking, poignant, enlightening and cool.
Schools will be bringing well over a thousand children to a Kid Lit programme that includes the quirkiest and liveliest poet and guitarist in town, James Carter, and a behind-the-scenes look at writing historical novels with Nestlé prize- winning novelist, Julia Golding. Join Bob and his dog, Barry and help to recover the moon with author Simon Bartram, and witness something wickedly weird with illustrator Chris Mould. The week will round off with one of the top ten children’s authors, Kes Gray, whose book Eat your Peas is on almost every child’s bookshelf.
The ever diverse Community Events programme will be going poetry potty with your favourite poems on display around the town and at Barnwell Country Park (please vote for your favourites via the festival website before 14 February), and an evening with local poet, actor and playwright, Nick Perry and TV presenter, Charlie Ottley. This coming year will also see a murder mystery evening at the newly refurbished Victoria Hall, where guests will have to work out ‘who dunnit’ and why, and the return of the highly entertaining Literary Quiz evening (you will need to be quick to register your team at paula@oundlelitfest.org.uk ). Come and meet Carry Akroyd, enjoy the exhibition of her work on display from 5 - 20 March at The Dolby Gallery and hear how John Clare has inspired her. Festival favourite Shonaleigh returns, this time with musician Oleg Fateev, and together they weave a magical tale full of extraordinary imagery, The Tower of Bagel. Children are encouraged to continue to submit entries to the Festival’s children’s writing competition (closing date 13 February) and there will be a literary event for local elderly people.
As part of the Festival’s ongoing All Year Events programme, Oundle will be holding a weekend of football and literature events with the England and Norway Writers Teams in the run up to the Writers World Cup later this year. Families can take part in an interactive mathematical event with Professor Marcus du Sautoy and enjoy Joe Dunthorne’s performance poetry; a limited number of tickets will be available for an evening dinner with all the players, who will be sharing some of their work with guests; and all are welcome to come and see the master wordsmiths from England and Norway pitched against one another on Sunday 27 March. Also as part of the All Year Events programme, bestselling children’s author Malorie Blackman will appear in April to speak about her award-winning Noughts and Crosses series.
For full details of all events, dates, times, venues and ticket prices, see the Festival brochure (due for release towards the end of January) or go to www.oundlelitfest.org.uk. Tickets will be on sale from the end of January at Oundle Customer Service Centre (01832 274333).