Festivals • by region If you wish to appear on the Mslexia website, please let us know ENGLISH REGIONS: EAST | EAST MIDLANDS | LONDON | NORTH EAST | NORTH WEST SOUTH EAST | SOUTH WEST | WEST MIDLANDS | YORKSHIRE NORTHERN IRELAND | SCOTLAND | WALES EAST»   Cambridge Word Fest provides a richly-packed weekend of some of the best contemporary writing, political debate, poetry and events for children. Presents a unique blend of workshops, seminars, panel events and readings. April   www.cambridgewordfest.co.uk International Aldeburgh Poetry Festival is the UK’s leading annual celebration of international contemporary poetry. Various venues in Aldeburgh. November www.thepoetrytrust.org King’s Lynn Poetry Festival is a series of readings, talks, interviews, discussions with renowned poets and well-known faces from around the world. Thoresby College, King’s Lynn. September www.lynnlitfests.com Poetry-next-the-Sea is a festival with poetry readings, workshops, discussions, and musical events in a beautiful little coastal town in Norfolk April www.poetrynextthesea.com   EAST MIDLANDS » Oundle Literature Festival features top name authors, events and talks. March www.oundlelitfest.org.uk LONDON » Scene Scriptwriting Festival takes place during the London Film Festival and includes screenwriting training and insider advice on the movie business, alongside the chance to hear from some of the makers of this year’s most exciting films. London. October www.scriptfactory.co.uk Spit-Lit: The Spitalfields Literary Festival celebrates women’s writing and includes readings, talks, performances and workshops with an international line-up of novelists, journalists, broadcasters, poets, playwrights, comics, musicians and artists. Venues in East London. March www.alternativearts.co.uk   NORTH EAST » Durham Literature Festival hosts top names plus events and workshops in the Cathedral city of Durham. September/October www.literaturefestival.co.uk National Association of Writers’ Groups Open Festival of Writing offers workshops with well-known tutors, events and Afterglow, an opportunity for everyone to perform their work. St Aiden’s College, University of Durham. September www.nawg.co.uk ProudWords promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual writing, organises courses and events throughout the year, with a festival in Newcastle-Gateshead. Events are open to all, courses for lesbian, gay or bisexual people only. October www.proudwords.org.uk   NORTH WEST » Manchester Poetry Festival takes in performance (slams, theatre etc), standard poetry readings, exhibitions, workshops and children’s events. October www.manchesterpoetryfestival.co.uk Words by the Water Literature Festival takes place at the Theatre by the Lake, Derwent Water, Keswick. March www.wayswithwords.co.uk   SOUTH EAST » Charleston Festival includes talks and readings, and takes place at the famous meeting place of the Bloomsbury Group: Charleston, Firle, Lewes, East Sussex. May www.charleston.org.uk Guildford Book Festival features readings, discussions and performances with established and new authors. October www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk Small Wonder Short Story Festival is a festival where the short story is celebrated, examined, dissected, performed, read and thoroughly enjoyed. Events include readings, workshops and the popular Short Story Slam. Charleston Farmhouse, near Lewes, East Sussex. September www.charleston.org.uk/smallwonder The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival includes a mixture of talks, panel discussions, readings and workshops. Oxford. March/April www.sundaytimes-oxfordliteraryfestival.co.uk   SOUTH WEST » Bath Literature Festival features a large number of events, from debates and lectures to readers’ groups, writing workshops and films, in venues throughout the city. February/March www.bathlitfest.org.uk Cheltenham Festival of Literature plays host to over 400 authors and includes Voices Off, a programme of performers in unlikely places. Also Book It! children’s festival & writing workshops October www.cheltenhamfestivals.co.uk Falmouth Festival of Literature and Arts is an opportunity for you to indulge in the finest books, art, discussion, literature and music in a lovely Cornish setting. Falmouth Arts Centre and other venues. September www.falmouthfestival.co.uk Frome Arts Festival includes workshops, discussions, drama, readings and poetry performances. July www.fromefestival.co.uk Ways With Words Literature Festival has a programme of 200 speakers over 10 days. Set in the medieval courtyard at Dartington Hall, Devon. July www.wayswithwords.co.uk   WEST MIDLANDS » Ledbury Poetry Festival features contemporary poets, actors and media personalities and includes readings, performances, exhibitions, music, walks & talks, workshops. June/July www.poetry-festival.com YORKSHIRE » Harrogate Crime Writing Festival features top crimewriters. Plus workshops, true crime specialists, industry seminars and forensic events. Also the launch of the Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year Award. July www.harrogate-festival.org.uk Ilkley Literature Festival includes authors’ events, discussions, readings, performances, workshops, readers’ events and literary walks. September/October www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk Libertas York Lesbian Arts Festival promotes lesbian arts including music, performance, reading, writing and visual arts, plus a two-day book festival. October www.ylaf.org.uk Off the Shelf Literature Festival is Sheffield’s celebration of all things literary, featuring an impressive line-up of writers, poets and broadcasters. Also: workshops, literary walks, exhibitions, competitions, storytelling plus events for children. Sheffield. October www.offtheshelf.org.uk NORTHERN IRELAND » Belfast Festival includes some of the best international acts and performances from around the world. Everything from film and comedy to literature events. Various venues in Belfast. October/November www.belfastfestival.com SCOTLAND » Borders Book Festival in the Scottish Borders, includes bestselling authors, events and workshops. Melrose June www.bordersbookfestival.org Edinburgh International Book Festival is the largest and most dynamic festival of its kind in the world. Online booking opens in June. August www.edbookfest.co.uk StAnza is Scotland’s only regular festival dedicated to poetry, presenting world-class poets and writers performing in exciting, atmospheric venues. St Andrews. March www.stanzapoetry.org Wigtown Book Town Festival includes readings, group discussions, interviews and book launches. September/October www.wigtown-booktown.co.uk WALES » The Guardian Hay Festival celebrates great writing in every medium in Britain and around the world. Informal, accessible and great fun, featuring writers, musicians, film-makers and comedians. Hay-on-Wye. May/June www.hayfestival.com Beyond the Border International Storytelling Festival is dedicated to promoting understanding of the world’s oral traditions, and brings together storytellers, poets and musicians from around the world. St Donat’s Castle, Nr Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. July www.beyondtheborder.com • Return to main listings page • Place a banner ad
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