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London Book & Screen Week 2017 unveils programme that goes from Hogwarts to Hygge in celebration of books

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David Nicholls, Roddy Doyle and Michael Morpurgo headline the seven-day festival

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A Soho awards night with David Nicholls, a very special Harry Potter screening at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London and conversations with Michael Morpurgo and Roddy Doyle lead the eclectic line-up of this year’s London Book & Screen Week (13-19 March 2017).

 

Produced by The London Book Fair, the seven-day, citywide festival celebrates books – and the films, games, plays and TV programmes they inspire – shining the spotlight on the critical role books play in our creative industries. This year’s programme celebrates the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and 200 years since the death of Jane Austen.

 

David Nicholls, one of the UK’s leading figures in literature, TV and film, will champion the specially curated programme of events as the Ambassador of this year’s London Book & Screen Week. Roddy Doyle will be in conversation at House of St Barnabas – thirty years after the publication of his novel The Commitments.

 

St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London will be the spellbinding setting for a very special Harry Potter film screening. All-star comedy troupe Austentatious will return to Leicester Square Theatre to perform an improvised show based on audience suggestions. The show will be preceded by a panel of special guests from the literary world, who will divulge and share their own love for Jane Austen’s work.

 

Acclaimed children’s author Michael Morpurgo will be in conversation with Owen Sheers, and Deborah Moggach will introduce a screening of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which was adapted from her novel These Foolish Things.

 

With Britain in the grip of Hygge fever, Waterstones Piccadilly are putting on a Scandi crime screening, and bringing together Hygge experts Bronte Aurell (The Scandi Kitchen), Signe Johansen (How to Hygge), Louisa Thomsen Brits(The Book of Hygge) and Trine Hahnemann (Scandinavian Comfort Food) to provide wisdom on how to live more Danishly.

 

The fitness stars of Instagram – who have become publishing sensations – come together for a talk about fitness in the digital age: Faya Nilsson (Fitness on Toast), James Exton (LDN Muscle) and Alice Living (Clean Living Alice).

 

London’s award-winning LGBT literary salon Polari returns once again to The Light Lounge in Soho for a night of chat and cocktails hosted by Paul Burston, with joyous readings from Sophia Blackwell, Christopher Fowler and VG Lee. The Irish Literary Society are hosting a bumper series of events to showcase some of Ireland’s finest writers.

 

Jacks Thomas, Director of The London Book Fair and London Book & Screen Week, said:

 

“It’s wonderful to be working with partners across London to celebrate writers and their work in all its different formats. The line-up of this year’s London Book & Screen Week once again demonstrates the range and depth of London’s creative talent, and how vital books are for all our creative industries.

 

In 2017, we are particularly proud to present the CAMEO awards in their inaugural year. The Creativity Across Media: Excellence and Originality Awards will identify the individuals who create some of the most successful film, stage, TV and game adaptations, telling inspiring, gripping, life-transforming stories here and across the globe.”

 

London Book & Screen Week is run in partnership with some of the capital’s highest-profile brands, including London & Partners, the Mayor’s official promotional company for London, which attracts businesses and visitors to the capital and operates VisitLondon.com, the official city guide for London.

 

The launch night at Soho House, central London (13 March), will also see the awards ceremony for the inauguralCreativity Across Media: Entertainment & Originality Awards (CAMEO).

 

The festival combines specially curated events with an open sourced strand that anyone can submit to online at www.londonbookandscreenweek.co.uk.  To find out more, and book event tickets, visit www.londonbookandscreenweek.co.uk.

 

 

LONDON BOOK & SCREEN WEEK 2017

Programme Highlights

Monday 13 March

 

AUSTENTATIOUS: A SPECIAL EDITION

At Leicester Square Theatre – 7 pm

 

Austentatious returns to its London home in resplendent fashion. In this special edition, powered by London Book & Screen Week, enjoy a pre-show ample with some special guests from the literary world as they divulge and share their own love for Austen’s work. Panellists include Oxford professor and Jane Austen expert Kathryn Sutherland (Teenage Writings), a member of the Austentatious cast, and more.

Tickets: £12.50: https://leicestersquaretheatre.ticketsolve.com/#/shows/873569690

 

 

POLARI LITERARY SALON

At The Light Lounge, Soho – 6.30 pm

 

London’s award-winning LGBT literary salon returns once again to The Light Lounge in Soho for London Book & Screen Week. Polari began in November 2007 in the upstairs room of a pub in Soho. It is now based at the Southbank Centre, where events are held every month. It tours regularly across the country, and hosts Polari Prize for Fiction, an award handed annually to the best first book by an LGBT author in the UK.

Tickets £5: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/polari-soho-special-tickets-31751988051

 

 

Tuesday 14 March

 

LIVING DANISHLY: AN EVENING OF COSINESS AND SCANDI CRIME

At Waterstones Piccadilly – 6 pm

 

London Book & Screen Week is collaborating with Waterstones Piccadilly to put on a special film screening, followed by a How to Hygge discussion with Hygge experts Louisa Thomsen Brits (The Book of Hygge), Bronte Aurell (The Scandi Kitchen), Signe Johansen (How to Hygge) and Trine Hahnemann (Scandinavian Comfort Food). Light refreshments will be provided.

Tickets £5: https://www.waterstones.com/events/living-danishly-an-evening-of-cosiness-and-scandi-crime/london-piccadilly

 

 

AN EVENING WITH RODDY DOYLE

At The House of St Barnabas – 7 pm

 

Roddy Doyle is the author of eleven novels, two collections of stories, two books of dialogues and Rory & Ita, a memoir of his parents. He has written seven books for children and has contributed to a variety of publications including The New Yorker, McSweeney’s, Metro Eireann and several anthologies. He won the Booker Prize in 1993, for Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha.

Tickets £15: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-evening-with-roddy-doyle-tickets-31889474276

 

 

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL: A VERY SPECIAL SCREENING

At The Charlotte Street Hotel – 6.30 pm

 

This screening of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel will be preceded by a special interview with Deborah Moggach, whose novel These Foolish Things, was adapted into the hit film. Deborah’s latest novel, Something to Hide, is set in Beijing, Texas, a fictitious African country and Pimlico. She will be talking about the meaning of settings and the writer’s view behind adaptations with the biographer, lecturer, and journalist Anne Sebba, author of nine critically acclaimed books of non-fiction, most recently Les Parisiennes, about Paris from 1939-49 through women’s eyes.

Tickets £18.43: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-best-exotic-marigold-hotel-a-very-special-screening-tickets-31827938220

 

 

Wednesday 15 March

 

MICHAEL MORPURGO IN CONVERSATION

At Bush Hall, Shepherds Hall

 

Michael Morpurgo, OBE, is the former Children’s Laureate and best-selling author of over 140 books, including Private Peaceful, Kensuke’s Kingdom, The Butterfly Lion, and War Horse, which first performed at the National Theatre in 2007. In this exclusive London Book & Screen Week event, Michael will be joined by Owen Sheers, author, poet and playwright, as they delve into the world of adaptions. This intimate dialogue will see the prolific authors discuss what it means to see the words and world you so carefully composed being lifted from the page and onto the stage and beyond.
Tickets £17.05: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-story-books-screen-stage-michael-morpurgo-talks-narrative-adaptation-with-owen-sheers-tickets-31991195527

FROM FIGHTING FANTASY TO THE WITCHER: HOW NARRATIVE DESIGN IN GAMING ENHANCES STORYTELLING
At BAFTA – 6.30 pm  

In the world of storytelling, gaming is unique. Giving over control, it allows gamers to define their own journey within a malleable landscape. This inspires a new growing generation of storytellers in the 21st century across all media. With video game sales in the UK at an all-time high – what is the next chapter? And what is gaming’s mandate as a creative platform in the world of storytelling? Join us for a panel discussion featuring Ian Livingstone, co-creator of Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, Andrzej Sapkowski, the author of the Witcher novels, the writer and digital producer Meg Jayanth, and Chris Gardiner, Narrative Director at Failbetter Games.

Tickets available soon: http://www.londonbookandscreenweek.co.uk/events/

 

 

Thursday 16 March

 

OLGA TOKARCZUK AND DEBORAH LEVY

At London Review Bookshop – 7 pm

 

One of the most acclaimed Polish writers of her generation, Olga Tokarczuk has won multiple prizes, most recently for her novel The Books of Jacob, which explores an important moment in 18th-century Polish history. Two recent novels, The Books of Jacob and Flights, will shortly be published, for the first time in English, by Fitzcarraldo Editions. Tokarczuk will be in conversation with The Man Booker shortlisted novelist Deborah Levy.

Tickets available soon: http://www.londonbookandscreenweek.co.uk/events/

 

 

Friday 17 March

 

IRISH LITERARY SOCIETY

At Bloomsbury Hotel

 

The Irish Literary Society are putting on three events at the Bloomsbury Hotel specially for London Book & Screen Week. The Irish Literary Society was established in London in 1892. Among its founders were W B Yeats and Douglas Hyde and other leaders of the Irish Literary Revival.

The object of the Society is to promote the appreciation of Irish literature and culture and to provide a forum for intellectual and social activities in connection with these interests.
Tickets available soon: http://www.londonbookandscreenweek.co.uk/events/

 

 

Saturday 18 March

 

FITNESS IN THE DIGITAL AGE

At SF Studios, Hampstead – 10 am

 

Now that we’re all making a #fitspo to spread #motivation to our #fitfam, ‘Fitness in Our Digital Age’ will bring together some of the biggest stars in the fitness scene who have built dedicated followings on Instagram and blogs such as Fitness on Toast. In the tranquil setting of SF Studios, north London’s leading movement studio, we host a unique panel discussions featuring an amazing line-up including fitness expert Faya Nilsson and the co-founder of LDN Muscle, James Exton. Their discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A and book signings.

Tickets £13.25: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fitness-in-a-digital-age-tickets-31997576613

 

 

Sunday 19 March

 

CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF HARRY POTTER: FILM SCREENING AT ST PANCRAS RENAISSANCE HOTEL LONDON

At St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London– 6 pm

 

Grown up Potter fans, rejoice: London Book & Screen Week are putting on a Harry Potter film screening in the spellbinding St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London. Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in a setting straight out of Hogwarts. Expect free popcorn on arrival and themed cocktails at the bar. Wands, wizarding robes, hats and broomsticks are welcome.

Tickets: £18.43: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebrate-20-years-of-harry-potter-film-screening-at-st-pancras-renaissance-hotel-london-tickets-31874274814

 

 

CORPORATE KINDNESS: Jane Cable shares the second in a series of blogs about organising a charity litfest

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matt-Woodies chindi pics July2015 - chris & jane croAuthor and Frost contributor Jane Cable shares the second in a series of blogs about organising a charity litfest in aid of Words for the Wounded. Last month the all-important dates and speakers were organised (17-18th October, Elizabeth Buchan and Margaret Graham) but what about venues… and sponsors… and publicity…

Christopher Joyce, chief Chindi and my co-conspirator in this crazy venture, has gone into overdrive with his contact book. Not a native of Chichester by any means, in the relatively short time he’s lived in the area I think he must have met – and charmed – everyone. And as a result he has three venues for three events sorted.

The one that I was supposed to organise fell flat on its face. Chichester Library, normally our best venue for anything and biggest supporter all around, was unable to host the planned bookish treasure hunt because it’s in aid of charity. West Sussex County Council policy. So we’ve quietly let that one drop.

In the meantime Chris has persuaded Woodies Brasserie in the city centre to close its restaurant to the paying public on a Saturday lunchtime, no less, and put on a special buffet at a cost which allows a generous £7 donation out of each £25 ticket sold. Luckily I have been able to contribute something as their wine merchants, Mason & Mason, are good friends of mine and they are donating a glass of something deliciously organic for every guest.

Chris has also been twisting arms at his local, The Park Tavern, and they’ve given us the run of the place on Saturday evening to shake buckets and sell raffle tickets. And the raffle prizes… so far our top catches are a £60 voucher for a tasting from Hampshire Wine School, a £150 voucher from author Claire Dyer for her Fresh Eyes manuscript review service and a hair cut from Benjamin James Hair Vision. Recovery on Sunday morning is being hosted by Carluccios who again are giving us a fixed price package for our bookswap breakfast which allows a £5 donation from each £15 ticket.

Last but not least Chris has twisted arms at Chichester Design to put together a wonderful leaflet. I’ve been able to get a decent price for the printing but we still need a sponsor so if anyone has a spare £90…? Please…?

But at the end of the day it isn’t entirely down to Chris’s charm and advanced persuasion techniques that businesses have been so generous – it’s a great deal to do with the charity. People simply want to help those who’ve suffered through putting their lives on the line in the name of duty. I had a sharp reminder of some of the issues recently when, as part of my research for the novel I’m currently writing, I met an ex-serviceman who’d served in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. I wanted to know what combat was really like from someone who’d been there. I wish I hadn’t had to ask. We don’t know what those brave men and women have gone through; we can’t even begin to imagine it. All we can hope to do is help.

Learn more about…
Words for the Wounded: www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk
Chindi Authors: www.chindi-authors.co.uk
Woodies Brasserie: www.woodiesbrasserie.com
The Park Tavern: www.parktavernchichester.co.uk
Carluccios Chichester: www.carluccios.com/restaurants/chichester
Chichester Design: www.chichesterdesign.co.uk
Christopher Joyce: www.creaturesofchichester.com
Jane Cable: www.janecable.com

 

 

Way Upstream by Alan Ayckbourn at Chichester Festival Theatre

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Credit: Simon Annand

Credit: Simon Annand

When a play requires a river, a tree-lined bank and a floating motor cruiser as its set, it’s destined to be seldom performed. But Chichester Festival Theatre doesn’t scare easily when it comes to technical challenges and Nadia Fall’s extraordinary production of Alan Ayckbourn’s dark comedy easily meets the play’s epic technical demands.

With most of the action taking place onboard Hadforth Bounty the first half is where the laughs are to be had. Keith and June have taken to the water with colleagues and business partners Alastair and Emma for a jolly waterways holiday. Trouble on dry land back at their novelty goods factory sees PA Mrs Hatfield (Nicola Sloane) having to show up bankside with daily updates. Brash and self-important, Keith (Peter Forbes) quickly nominates himself as captain, while his disgruntled wife June (Sarah Parish) carps, huffs and idles. Lily-livered Alastair (Jason Hughes) and his timid missus Emma (Jill Halfpenny) end up doing the bulk of the graft, resentment building like a slowly developing tidal wave.

But the sit-com feel and the jokes at the expense of well-drawn middle-class characters give way to altogether nastier themes. With the arrival of Vince (Jason Durr), a savvy and seemingly harmless bit of eye candy who does, unlike the novice sailors, at least seem to know how to avoid capsizing, initial barbed teasing swiftly degenerates into disturbing casual cruelty, punctuated only by drunken revels and sexual shenanigans. Manipulating Keith off the boat to go and deal with the threat of strike action back at the factory, Vince introduces minxy Fleur (Emily Laing) into the equation, all the while ramping up the intimidation and spite.

As Ayckbourn highlights the consequences of power in the wrong hands and the fallout of perpetual feebleness, the laughter from the audience gets increasingly nervous.

Fabulously played, the performances are all stunningly good; not even Ben Stones gloriously clever set, beautifully lit by Tim Mitchell, can upstage this superb cast.

An odd but nevertheless compelling play, the launch of the 2015 Festival season at Chichester makes an impressive splash.

Until 16 May. Box office: 01243 781312; www.cft.org.uk

Vicky Edwards

The Extra-terrestrial Film Festival: The St Albans Film Festival Returns

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The Extra-terrestrial Film Festival The St Albans Film Festival ReturnsA “Secret Cinema” experience, films in the park after dark, and a swim-in cinema are planned for St Albans 3rd Film Festival which will be out of this world
 
 Visitors to the St Albans Film Festival will have the opportunity to take part in a ‘Secret Cinema’ experience when the Odyssey cinema holds an immersive Space film event on opening night, 1 May.
The Extra-terrestrial Film Festival The St Albans Film Festival Returns leoni
 
Leoni Kibbey says that the event will bring some surprise and excitement to the opening night.  “I am a huge fan of the ‘Secret Cinema’ phenomenon, she says, “and wanted to bring a bit of that fun to the film festival.  This is different to the usual secret events as the location and time is known beforehand, but the film itself is being kept under wraps.   We may release some clues nearer to the day though, and it is definitely a film in line with our Space theme, so we are definitely inviting people to dress accordingly!”
 
Since 2013 the St Albans Film Festival has earned its place alongside the bigger international film festivals, gaining credibility by attracting over 1,000 entries from filmmakers from 40 countries into its short film competition, and also securing Christiane Kubrick, widow of film directing legend Stanley Kubrick, who lived and worked in the area, as its Patron.
The Extra-terrestrial Film Festival The St Albans Film Festival Returnsfightingcockspub
 
The Festival – which has taken Space as its theme this year, coinciding with the centenary of Einstein’s general theory of relativity (gravity), and also the current general release of The Theory of Everything; the Golden Globe winning movie about the famous scientist and space expert, Stephen Hawking, who hails from St Albans – is holding its grand launch event and closing awards ceremony at the recently restored Odyssey cinema, which first opened in 1908. This was one of the first cinemas to open in the country.
 
Other firsts for this year’s film festival include a pop-up cinema at the country’s oldest pub, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, which will be screening Alien on 29th April and Aliens on 30th April, in the garden, with a barbecue as part of the ticket price of £12. Landlord Christo Tofalli says: “To my knowledge, this is the first time in the pub’s 1,222 year history that it has turned into a cinema!”  Tickets are selling fast so visit the film festival website to buy yours.
The Extra-terrestrial Film Festival The St Albans Film Festival Returnsstage
 
The festival team will also be managing a central ‘hub’ based at another historic building: the St Albans Town Hall, a Georgian Grade ll listed building which has received funding from the HLF to be transformed into an exceptional new museum and gallery of national and international significance in 2017.  The Town Hall will hold the official screenings of the finalists in the short film competition, and run a selected number of events about filmmaking.
 
Just a short drive from St Albans is Bayfordbury Observatory: the University of Hertfordshire’s astronomical and atmospheric physics remote sensing observatory, and one of the largest teaching observatories in the UK. The centre opens its doors to the film festival on Saturday for an exciting evening for ages 8+ which includes a talk on ‘Space and Astronomy in Films: the Facts and the Fiction’ and an HD planetarium show, followed by a visit to their telescopes with live observations.
 
Don your pointy ears and Trekkie gear in homage to the late Leonard Nimoy (Spock) as The Maltings Arts Theatre invite you to startrek across the universe with Spock, Kirk and the rest of the crew of the Starship Enterprise as they host a trilogy of the first star trek films from the ‘70s & ‘80s.
 
Take a trip to Westminster Lodge’s Alien Day on Saturday 1st May as they once again open their Swim-in cinema, with family film ‘Monsters Vs  Aliens’ in the day and, for ages 18+, Alien Resurrection with the famous underwater scene, in the evening.  
 
Film & Media Students from Oaklands College on Hatfield Road host a packed weekend of events inspired by Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. All events are completely free and suitable for all ages – including workshops and a chance to try out professional film equipment, Odyssey, film quizzes, lectures, indie screenings and lots more.
 
One of the coolest events at the festival and not to be missed is the stunning screening of new indie feature ‘Always in the Present’ the debut feature from Writer and Director Oliver Guy-Watkins. This exclusive screening will include a live score by French band Metropolitan Parc and screens in the afternoon on the Saturday.
  
Warren Bacci, director of Top Talent Agency, based in St Albans, and judge for Best Actor award, says: “We really recommend visitors see at least one of the short film category screenings, as showcasing filmmaking talent is at the heart of the festival.  In previous years, the festival has discovered exciting new talent in filmmaking internationally, as well as recognising acting talent such as Luke Treadaway, who won Best Actor at the festival last year.”
Some of the stars of this year’s eclectic mix of short films include: Cillian Murphy, Ricky Tomlinson, A BAFTA winner, A Disney Animator, A Gay Rugby Team and the band Enter Shikari.  Audience members will get to meet the best up and coming filmmakers as each screening has a Q&A session after and this year introduces the audience vote, which count towards the final voting score and winners are announced at the closing awards ceremony at The Odyssey cinema on the Sunday evening.
Leoni Kibbey, festival director, says: “I am so excited about this year’s theme – so look out for all the added extras we are known for  – see the city taken over by aliens and spacemen for one weekend. In our first three years, we have established a reputation for putting on an innovative and ambitious programme of events and this year we have taken a giant leap forward and let the local residents and businesses take more ownership of their festival by putting on more of their own events and initiatives to celebrate film.
 
 “Edinburgh Festival started small with one person’s idea and now thousands of productions and events take place around Edinburgh. I would love to bring a slice of that kind of energy to our city, which was itself at the forefront of modern filmmaking and cinemas a hundred years ago and see the festival grow for years to come.”
 
Tickets to the secret cinema event are available direct from the Odyssey box office, and tickets for all other film festival events are available now from www.stalbansfilmfestival.co.uk, and from the box office, which is now open at the old court rooms in the Town Hall.
 

Italian Festival – Come With Me & Meet Bafana By Amanda Brake, Frost’s Le Marche correspondent

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6th January Italian Festival – Come with me and meet Bafana.  By Amanda Brake, Frost’s Le Marche correspondent.

photo1Italy

We got up early on this glorious morning to do our normal hour of chopping wood for the fires. We have two fires.  One heats the radiators, the other heats the hot water and is situated in the centre of our house keeping us warm. Our chopping and other chores finished, we relaxed, seduced by the warmth into staying inside. By mid-afternoon it really was time for us to kit up, and find where Bafana may be flying. But hang on, we were all feeling too cosy to adventure out into the cold, so stayed put for yet half hour.

Finally, shaking off our reluctance, we hurried into coats and boots, and we set off for our small town of Amandola . By the time we arrived things were just about getting started; in fact witches were everywhere.

phto2italy

There were many activities: balloon blowing, drawing for the children who created many and varied pictures of Bafana and over it all,  music played. The walk had warmed us and we were all in the party mood as the atmosphere became more and more lively. As well as the games, which had begun for the kids, many of the girls had dressed as Befana,  the witch.

It was a shame our boys were too shy to join at first but as more arrived and joined in the festivities so did they.  Toys and sweets were finally given to all the children, and the band played their music into the night until reluctantly, we headed home.

3italySo what is this festival? In Italy the festival is known as La Befana after the legendary old woman who delivers gifts on her broomstick. She is said to visit children on the eve of January 6 to fill their socks with sweets and presents if they have been good or a lump of coal or dark candy if they have been bad.

4italyThere are many versions. In Milan, authorities set up what they touted as the world’s longest Epiphany stocking – two kilometres long, it was made with thread derived from recycled bottles in the colours of this year’s world’s fair, Milan Expo 2015.

In Venice, a regatta is held in the Grand Canal with rowers dressed up as old women competing for best costume.
In Rome’s Piazza Navona, the holiday is focused on children with activities aimed at kids and the arrival of the three kings on horseback.
In the seafaring port city of Genoa, the Befana arrives on a water scooter, and Befana divers deposit a crown on the sea floor near Gallinara Island. Florence celebrates with a procession down the Arno River by 100 vessels from the city’s rowing club, while in Naples fire fighters organize a feast for children that also taught them about fire safety. In the southern city of Brindisi, the Hellenic Community carries out a traditional blessing of the port.

We look forward to next year’s local Bafana, at which we will meet our friends, and welcome in the New Year.  I do hope that 2015 is a good one for all Frost readers.

 

 

What was the best festival of 2014? Olivia Outram spills the Secret

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SGP

The Secret Garden Party

So with the initial line up for 2015 released this week, I think it’s about time to gush a bit about my festival of last summer.

The Music
As the sun went down over the main stage on a balmy Saturday evening Sub Motion Orchestra revealed themselves as the standout performers of the festival for me. Theirs was the kind of bass that makes the earth, not shake, that wouldn’t be the right word, but sway in a luxurious, sensual manner. Ruby Wood’s ethereally jazzy vocals were the cherry on a quite delectably sexy cake. Clean Bandit have really upped their game since doing the festival rounds in 2013, commanding the main stage with tens of thousands of festival goers singing back their lyrics. And for the late night lovers, Sigma “absolutely smashed it” (as Cheryl Cole might say) in Temple of Boom post 3am. My only personal disappointment was standing pride of place on the top platform of the Collisillium, having elbowed hundreds of people out of the way, waiting for this year’s secret act to perform (Chase and Status again…) at the stroke of midnight – Only to be left waiting… and waiting… and waiting… Rumour has it they finally rocked up over two and a half hours late. Not. Cool.

The Locale
This really was the ultimate adult’s playground, whether you like it colourful, eerie, hard-core or filled with sunflowers, there was a playground for every personality. There was also the option of swimming in the lake, which might sound spontaneous but after you’d donned your sexiest swimsuit you were left standing in line for the best part of an hour waiting to be refreshed (or, let’s be honest, have a replacement bath). To be fair the excessive queue was no doubt due to the scorchingly hot weather we enjoyed at SGP this year (Sorry (not sorry) to all of you who pinned your festival hopes and dreams on Glastonbury but forewent your summer glow for trench foot). From secret tunnels, floating dance floors, winding forests and colossal stages to fields filled to the brim with 6 foot tall giant sunflowers hidden behind a secret portaloo door – the one thing we can all admit is the hills of Abbots Ripton are transformed into something truly magical, that even Alice in Wonderland would gawk at.

Local Wildlife
The clientele cannot go unmentioned. It seemed like this year’s festival had an unparalleled supply of beautiful people – everywhere you looked you saw another “genetic lottery winner”, as one companion commented. As ever, body paint, glitter and “quirky” headwear were all the rage. Meaning the usually bold and unique individual fizzled into the crowd. Those who really wanted to stand out, and there were quite a few, dispensed with the outfits altogether, some choosing to don only carefully applied body paint and a few of the most adventurous opting for just the glow of the summer sun and a dab of moisturiser. For the sake of their nipples, I sincerely hope one with SPF.

Inevitable Celebrity Sighting
This bit all depends on your definition of “celebrity”… you could feast your eyes on pretty much the entire cast of Made in Chelsea. Alex Mytton even made the sought-after headlines of Daily Mail Online with his episode of “exhaustion”. For the more refined celebrity oglers, his royal highness (absolutely no pun intended) Prince Harry graced us with his presence in full Secret Garden Party glittery glory with his face painted a smirf-tastic shade of ‘royal’ blue.

Transcendent-moment-where-everything-makes-sense
As the sun dipped behind the horizon on the Saturday evening, it was replaced by a spectacle of fiery colourful delight with the annual SGP fireworks extravaganza. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a Secret Gardener who didn’t suddenly think their drink had been spiked with the best type of acid, when a plane flying low rained giant bubbles over the entire festival’s heads. This, combined with the darting lasers piercing the wobbly, translucent globules made for a truly incredible vision. The whole of the main stage appeared to be covered in glittering fairy dust. Either that … or the drive to the festival from the station with the utterly charming former Police Constable Simon, now of ‘Steve’s Cars’. Simon you are an utter legend.

words by Olivia Outram

The Readers & Writers Festival to be held in lovely Margaret River, Western Australia

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I found Margaret River when I was researching my bestselling novel Canopy of Silence for Heinemann some years ago now. I flew over from the UK and took the bus down from Perth, Western Australia to seek out descendants of the Group Settlers. I found Dinkie Sutton, who was the relative of the guy who ran the post office in my Somerset village, where I lived then. She introduced me to others.

I fell in love with the Sutton family and Margaret River. I think of it as my second home. It is a place of great beauty and initially, of great hardship for the settlers, who were enticed out by the British and West Australian governments after the 1 World War to create dairy farms.

The settlers were shown films of established dairy farms in New South Wales typical, it was said, of the farms they would go to.

The reality on the western side of Australia was different. South of Perth there were sandy tracts, and further down, near Margaret River, the soil was just not capable of producing grazing land sufficiently nutritious for dairy herds.

thebushnearmargaretriver

Before they reached that stage the settlers had to fell the huge trees, with a mattock and a saw, sometimes walking a couple of miles to collect water for their young families. It’s the stuff of heartbreak, but the Poms were a tough lot, just as are the Australians.

They endured, and latterly it was discovered that the Margaret River area is suitable for wine growing. It’s worth a visit just to tour the vineyards which produce the most superb wines. Trust me, I remember the hangovers. Even those were of a superior variety.

I have many tales to tell of the area and will dig out a few as we get more news from the region, because I’m delighted to tell you we have the first of many items from the region. Bring ‘em on, please.

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The Margaret River Readers’ and Writers’ Festival  2015

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SEASONS is the theme for the seventh annual Readers and Writers Festival to be held in the beautiful Margaret River wine region in Western Australia next year, so those of you in the UK have time to plan your trip. Those of you in Australia, get ready to clear your diaries and give yourself a real treat.

Festival director Helen Allan tells me the annual festival will be held over the May long weekend 29-31 2015 and the festival has already secured a huge line-up of famous authors to excite readers of all genres.

“We are focussing on the environment, nature and the seasons of our lives – the theme `Seasons’ encapsulates all of those things, and Autumn is such a beautiful time in Margaret River, we should celebrate that – when Keats wrote that Autumn was the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ it almost seems like he wrote it for our region.”

The festival committee had lined up around 20 authors and the festival will, once again, run over three days.

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“From Tomorrow When The War Began author John Marsdon to science fiction author Isobelle Carmody, comedian and authors Sami Shah, Justin Heazelwood and Luke Ryan to romance authors Fiona Palmer, Michelle de Kretser and food/nature author Sophie Zalokar, we have something for everyone,” she said. As both a reader and writer I was already hooked.

“We will be letting more names out of the bag as the time draws nearer, we have had a huge amount of interest from authors wanting to take part in next year’s festival, given the outstanding growth and success of the festival last year.”

The festival, while small, is steadily growing and  the organisers are keen to have a big-name international authors to headline their event.

“We don’t have a huge budget, but what we lack in funds we make up for in warmth and hospitality, our authors are treated like royalty and thoroughly spoiled when they come over.

“We had hoped to have some British writers participate in next year’s festival and had invited Stephen Fry and Michael Palin, but to no avail. Hopefully as our festival gains more of an international standing more English authors will come forward. Our wine region is an exciting and beautiful place to visit and what could be better than combining a look at our natural wonders with a celebration of literature?”

 

I can vouch for all of that, and what a wonderful time to be south of Perth, in the lovely Margaret River area. While you’re there, have a good look around. See the wonderful surf, and give it a go. My son-in-law promises himself the opportunity one day. Perhaps head out to see the Prevelly Chapel, a monument to the monks of Crete who helped save so many Australian Servicement in the 2nd World War, at the expense of their own lives. Returning servicemen raised the money to raise the Chapel in tribute. It’s moving, but that’s an understatement. Go and see for yourselves, and make it in May so you can catch the Festival.

 

 

The Yeovil Literary Festival – An Author’s Perspective By Kate Kelly

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If you braved the rainclouds and ventured into Yeovil in the first weekend in November you might have noticed large green banners flying outside a number of venues, for this was the weekend of the Second Yeovil Literary festival. The first Yeovil Literary Festival took place last September, and this year I was delighted to be taking part again.

yeovil2014 Liz Pike, one of the festival organisers.

I was in fact involved in three events across three of the festival venues. They were three very different styles of event, and were only a tiny fraction of what the festival had to offer.

The first event was the Yeovil Prize Winners event on the Friday Morning. The Yeovil Prize was founded by bestselling author, Margaret Graham, with James Mitchell to raise funds for the arts of the area. When Margaret moved from Yeovil, crime writer, Penny Deacon took her place until handing over to Margaret’s ex-student, Liz Pike and her team. It is now in its 11th year and continues to grow. It is an internationally renowned competition, and since its earliest days it has been watched closely by both editors and agents, and as the list of success stories continues to grow it is clear why.

I am one such author – Red Rock was Highly Commended in 2010 and I’m convinced that this helped tip the balance with the agent who was considering it at the time. This year it was lovely to have a number of winners in the poetry category in our midst. We took turns to read our winning entries and talked about what the Yeovil Prize has meant to us.

2 The Yeovil Prize Winners Panel.

If you are interested in reading some of the poetry and fiction that has been shortlisted over the past couple of years, then the Yeovil Prize Anthology is now available.

3Marcus, manager of Yeovil Waterstones with copies of the Yeovil Prize Anthology.

That evening I was honoured to host “In Conversation with Jason Hewitt”. Jason is a debut novelist and The Dynamite Room was published earlier this year. It is a World War 2 story, but one with a difference and is absolutely superb. Set on the Suffolk coast in July 1940, a German officer swims ashore and breaks into a boarded up house. There he finds Lydia, and 11 year old escaped evacuee hiding in the attic. Over the next five days Lydia is held hostage in her own home – but there is more to the German that meets the eye – for how is it that he knows her name?

4In Conversation with Jason Hewitt.

I really enjoyed meeting Jason and chatting to him. The ‘In Conversation’ style of event was a lot of fun, very relaxed, and Jason had so many interesting things to tell us that the time simply flew!

5 Jason Hewitt and “The Dynamite Room

The following day was my third event, and quite a change from what had gone before. This time I was in the Yeovil Library running a writing workshop for children.

6 Outside Yeovil Library.

The event was well attended and I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of kids to work with. They were all so enthusiastic and imaginative and half an hour after the event had ended were all still sitting scribbling away. I suspect there might have been some budding authors in their midst.

Of course, these were only three events in a packed programme. The organisers have really built on last year’s success and I can’t wait for next year.