So why the Literature Festival? Bury has a music festival, a food festival, a children’s festival, a festival of ideas but nothing for the lovers of all things written.
Which is why a small group of us: Sue Wilde from Oakes Barn, Jackie Carreira and Andy Deane from QuirkHouse Theatre, Alison Kerridge from Waterstones in the Arc, Nic Miller and Julia Wakelam, later joined by Sylvana Marley, got together and decided to fill that gap. Now after months of planning and hard work here it is – Bury’s first Literature Festival!
It starts on 25th October and there will be a feast of literary events, many free, in all genres for all ages. Talks from writers such as Louis de Bernieres, author of the much loved Captain Corelli’s Mandolin on 29th October and Sarah Perry who wrote Waterstones Book of the Year 2016, the superb The Essex Serpent, on 28th October. Linda Davies will talk about her terrifying ordeal when kidnapped by pirates as told in her book Hostage on 27th October and the night before we will have the opportunity to eavesdrop on the conversation between Harry Sidebottom, author of the acclaimed Warrior series & Anthony Riches author of the much-admired Empire series, both set in Ancient Rome. Men of wit and erudition, this promises to be a highly entertaining evening.
For lovers of crime and thrillers, we have Helen Callaghan, author of the bestselling Dear Amy in the afternoon of 28th October and in the evening A Conversation in Crime with Alison Bruce whose DC Goodhew novels are set in Cambridge and Elly Griffiths whose Ruth Galloway novels are set on the North Norfolk coast.
For those who love nature Patrick Barkham, author of Coastlines and Islanders appears on 28th October an occasion which promises to be magical.
Local Writers
Local writers have not been forgotten. Poetry Aloud showcases their art on 25th October with award-winning poet Maria Apichella and authors can share their work in the Writer’s Café at Oakes Barn on 25th October. There are talks on writing and workshops with experienced tutors, themselves published authors, from Cambridge University’s Creative Writing course. Learn to write short stories with Lucy Durneen, create characters in novels with Rupert Wallis and write a memoir with Derek Neimann.
Young People
Young people have their own Festival events in Waterstones in the Arc: Arty Mouse for pre-schoolers on Wednesday 25th October, a creative writing workshop for ages 9-12 on 27t October with Katy Birchall, author of The It Girl and children’s author and comedian James Campbell appears on 27th October.
Veterans Charity
In association with veterans’ charity Walking With The Wounded, QuirkHouse Theatre and Conservatoire East will present War Poets at the Memorial at 11.00 am on 25th, 26th & 27th October on Angel Hill. We are proud to support this very worthwhile charity so please join us.
There are many other events, too many to mention here, so check out our Facebook page. Printed programmes are available from Waterstones, the Library, Oakes Barn Bury Free Press and other venues.
BURY LITERATURE FESTIVAL
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
(as of 09.10.2017)
(Note: Concessions = Under 25s or those in receipt of benefits only)
Online tickets available via www.wegottickets.com/burylitfest (+10% booking fee)
Physical tickets available in person from Oakes Barn, St Andrew’s Street South
WEDNESDAY 25TH OCTOBER
- JULIA BLAKE: Author talk
- Oakes Barn, 10 am-11 am
- FREE EVENT
- ARTYMOUSE BOOKS ‘HAVE A GO’ KIDS ART SESSION
- Waterstone’s, The Arc, 11 am-3 pm
- FREE EVENT
- POETRY AT THE WAR MEMORIAL: QuirkHouse Theatre with Conservatoire East
- War Memorial, Angel Hill, 11 am-12noon
- FREE EVENT
- WRITER’S CAFÉ
- Oakes Barn, 12noon-6pm
- FREE EVENT
- POETRY ALOUD: Evening of Poets
- Oakes Barn, 7 pm-10 pm
- (3 x 25min sessions: Guest poet (award-winning poet Maria Apichella); Part Worn presentation (first performed at Suffolk Festival of Poetry); open-mic session)
- FREE EVENT
THURSDAY 26TH OCTOBER
- ISABELLE KING: ‘The Norfolk Story Book’ Talk and Workshop
- Waterstones, The Arc, 11 am-3 pm
- FREE EVENT
- POETRY AT THE WAR MEMORIAL: QuirkHouse Theatre with Conservatoire East
- War Memorial, Angel Hill, 11 am-12noon
- FREE EVENT
- ROBERT HALLIDAY: Ghost Story Writers of Suffolk
- Oakes Barn, 12noon-1pm
- TICKETS: £5
- ANNE KRONBERGS: George Orwell In Southwold
- Oakes Barn, 3 pm-4 pm
- TICKETS: £5
- HARRY SIDEBOTTOM & ANTHONY RICHES: In Conversation
- St John’s Centre, 7 pm-9 pm
- TICKETS: £8 / £6 conc.
FRIDAY 27TH OCTOBER
- POETRY AT THE WAR MEMORIAL: QuirkHouse Theatre with Conservatoire East
- War Memorial, Angel Hill, 11 am-12noon
- FREE EVENT
- KATY BIRCHALL: Talk & Workshop
- Waterstones, The Arc, 11 am
- FREE EVENT
- RUPERT WALLIS: Creating a Character in Novels (Workshop)
- Oakes Barn, 11am-12:30pm
- TICKETS: £15
- LUCY DURNEEN: Short Stories (Writing Workshop) TBC*
- Oakes Barn, 1 pm
- TICKETS: £15
- DEREK NIEMANN: Writing Memoir (Workshop)
- Oakes Barn, 3:30pm-5:00pm
- TICKETS: £15
- JAMES CAMPBELL: ‘Boyface’ Talk and Workshop
- Waterstone’s, The Arc, 5.30 pm-6.30 pm
- TICKETS: CHILD £1 / ADULTS FREE (£1 can be redeemed on buying one of his books)
- LINDA DAVIES: ‘Hostage’ Talk and Book signing
- Unitarian Meeting House, 7 pm
- TICKETS: £8 / £6 conc.
- DICKENS AT THE ANGEL: Pickwick Papers
- QuirkHouse Theatre reading/performing excerpts from Pickwick Papers
- Angel Hotel lounge, 10 pm-11 pm
- FREE EVENT
SATURDAY 28TH OCTOBER
- PATRICK BARKHAM: ‘Islander’ Talk and Book signing
- Unitarian Meeting House, 12noon
- TICKETS: £8 / £6 conc.
- SARAH PERRY: ‘Essex Serpent’ Talk and Book signing
- Unitarian Meeting House, 2 pm
- TICKETS: £10 / £8 conc.
- HELEN CALLAGHAN: ‘Dear Amy’ Talk and Book signing
- Unitarian Meeting House, 4 pm
- TICKETS: £8 / £6 conc.
- ALISON BRUCE & ELLY GRIFFITHS: A Conversation In Crime
- Unitarian Meeting House, 7 pm
- TICKETS: £8 / £6 conc.
- DICKENS AT THE ANGEL: PICKWICK PAPERS
- QuirkHouse Theatre reading/performing excerpts from Pickwick Papers
- Angel Hotel lounge, 10 pm-11 pm
- FREE EVENT
SUNDAY 29TH OCTOBER
- BURY FILM SOCIETY: ‘7 WOMEN’ – based on the novel by Norah Lofts
- Hunter Club, 4 pm
- TICKETS: £5 (available from the Film Society on the day)
- LOUIS DE BERNIÈRES: Talk and Book Signing
- Unitarian Meeting House, 8 pm
- TICKETS: £10 / £8 conc.
- DICKENS AT THE ANGEL: PICKWICK PAPERS
- QuirkHouse Theatre reading/performing excerpts from Pickwick Papers
- Angel Hotel lounge, 10 pm-11 pm
- FREE EVENT
