New Literary Festival for Kent
Chiddingstone Castle (1 – 3 May 2016)
Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival is a NEW festival for story-lovers of all ages; set to take place in the glorious house and grounds of Chiddingstone Castle during and after the Bank Holiday weekend 1st – 3rd May 2016. The programme offers author events for adults and teenagers on Sunday 1st, events for families and children on Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May and a whole day of events dedicated to schools on Tuesday 3rd May.
In addition to author talks, there will be drama, story-telling, children’s theatre, music, illustrations and performance poetry; not to mention sparkling wit and wisdom, a dazzling array of delicious food, tea and cakes, and cocktails.
On Sunday visitors can enjoy listening to Juliet Nicholson and Imogen Lycett Green (discussing seven generations of women in the Sackville-West family). Later in the day performances will include Janet Ellis with Erin Kelly (the former Blue Peter presenter will talk about her debut novel); Andrew Lownie and Adam Sisman (with their new biographies of Guy Burgess and John le Carre) sponsored by Berry & Lambert Solicitors; David Lough and Francis Beckett (will compare their books on Churchill’s money and Blair’s finances); and veteran broadcaster Sandy Gall, Major Richard Streatfeild and (ex-Radio 4 Today editor) Peter Hanington (will debate the war in Afghanistan). The evening will feature a platform performance of Song of Lunch with Robert Bathurst (Downton Abbey and Cold Feet) and a talk by acclaimed historian Antony Beevor (about the Battle of the Ardennes) sponsored by Clutton’s.
On Bank Holiday Monday there will be a performance of The Tailor of Gloucester by the Pericles Theatre Company (a musical production for families with children aged 3+); and Lady Antonia Fraser and Tom Hodgkinson will discuss her memoir: My History. There will be an opportunity to meet Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell (Ask the Children’s Laureate – interactive Q&A) sponsored by Lovereading4kids and to hear poet Brian Moses (performance poetry with percussion). Performers will also include Christopher Lloyd (Giant Wallbook of the History of Great Britain) and Ed Caesar and Mihir Bose will hold a discussion about extreme sports.
Tuesday is particularly aimed at schools who would like to bring children aged 6 to13, featuring children’s authors Philip Womack (The Broken King trilogy) and Sally Gardner (Tinder and I, Coriander) looking at myths and fairy tales in their own writing, Caroline Lawrence talking about How to Write a Great Story and her own Roman Mysteries and PK Pinkerton Mysteries series. Sally Gardner will also entertain young readers with stories from her Operation Bunny. Finally, Nicky Singer (Blue Peter award-winning author of Feather Boy) will discuss her new novel Island. The day is being sponsored by the IPRS Group with support from Audi of Tunbridge Wells.
During the build up to the event, children will be invited to enter a Short Story Competition for Schools (two categories: age 7-9 and 10-13). The winning entries will be read out on the Bank Holiday Monday by Geoffrey Streatfeild (Royal Shakespeare Company) and winners will receive signed copies of Chris Riddell’s latest book.
For further information about the Festival please contact Victoria Henderson at literaryfestival@chiddingstonecastle.org.uk or visit www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk/literary-festival
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