Stratford Literary Festival returns with Susie Dent, Juliet Stevenson, Alison Steadman, Sally Phillips, Dame Jacqueline Wilson
Impressive ladies dominate the line-up at this May’s Stratford Literary Festival, with bestselling writers and household names in broadcasting, stage and screen coming to the town, including Susie Dent, Juliet Stevenson, Alison Steadman, Sally Phillips, Dame Jacqueline Wilson and many more.
With over 60 events packed in between 8th and 11th May at the Crowne Plaza hotel, the programme also includes leading historians and experts, award-winning fiction, celebrity biographies and workshops, as well as some exciting emerging writers published this year.
The festival also marks 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen with a special event starring leading actresses Juliet Stevenson and Sally Phillips – who’s resumed her role as Shazza in the latest Bridget Jones film.
The broadcasters Mishal Husain and Reeta Chakrabarti lead a line-up that also features acting legend Alison Steadman and BBC economics editor Dharshini David. Bestselling writer Dame Jacqueline Wilson talks about her enormously successful novel for adults and award-winning Irish novelist John Boyne shares the last in his brilliant elements series, Air.
Other bestselling writers who’ll be in Stratford include Cecelia Ahern, Kit de Waal, and Chloe Dalton, author of the huge debut success of last year Raising Hare. There’s a feast of crime fiction with bestsellers Stig Abell, Ava Glass, Simon Mayo and another leading broadcaster turned novelist, Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine. Irish writing is also celebrated with Mary Costello and debut Elaine Garvey.
On the non-fiction front, there is comedian and Infinite Monkey Cage presenter Robin Ince, Today and former Woman’s Hour presenter Emma Barnett, historian Tracy Borman, and award-winning cookery writer Diana Henry.
TED Talk sensation Julian Treasure talks about sound and listening with Alice Vincent and best-selling clinical psychologist Dr Julie Smith, author of the million-selling Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, celebrates her latest bestseller Open When…
BBC Gardener’s World presenter Carol Klein returns after having to withdraw from the festival in October last year.
Leading psychotherapist Julia Samuel will be recording an episode of her successful podcast TherapyWorks, the specialist in health for older people Dr Lucy Pollock has suggestions for a great third age, Sir Graham Brady will share behind the scenes goings-on at the infamous Tory 1922 Committee, journalist Simon Jenkins takes a whirlwind tour of British architecture, writer Guy Shrubsole asks who owns Britain, John Higgs celebrates the legendary series Dr Who and writer Nige Tassell takes us to the end of the line to celebrate 200 years of the railway.
The festival marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War with events from leading historians Giles Milton and Phil Craig who consider the legacy of the world conflict which resonate today.
Of course the Bard is included too: Daniel Swift considers the first playhouse, Stefan Stern looks at ambition with more than a nod to Lady Macbeth and the Impromptu Shakespeare company will act plays from themes you give them.
There will be several events celebrating emerging writers and workshops; including the popular Local Authors Showcase.
Events for families include a comic workshop and free trail created specially for the festival by Jamie Smart bestselling author of Bunny v Monkey, as well as engaging appearances with Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Nadia Shireen, Maz Evans, Charlie Higson – who’ll also be talking about reimagining James Bond – and Gareth P Jones.
“We’re really excited by the line-up this spring,” said festival director Annie Ashworth. “After the success of the October festival we are now running for four days in May and four in the autumn – there’s just too much great writing to pack in. Audiences are flocking to our events and we are so proud to be such a significant part of the regional cultural calendar.”
