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Together We Repair

Tuesday 19 August 19:15 - 20:15

Together We Repair Find out more
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We believe that everyone has a story to tell and that stories help us make sense of our world. We've challenged local writers and poets, this year, to respond to 2025's Festival theme: Repair. Join us as we bring them together to perform their work: a…
 

Richard Lloyd Parry, Edward Wong & Yuan Yang: On East Asia

Tuesday 19 August 19:30 - 20:30

Richard Lloyd Parry, Edward Wong & Yuan Yang: On East Asia Find out more
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From East China's geopolitical ambitions to South Korea's huge cultural influence and recent political turmoil, East Asia looms larger than ever in global news cycles. Yet beyond the headlines, how much do we understand these major international powers'…
 

Close Read: Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein

Tuesday 19 August 19:30 - 20:30

Close Read: Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein Find out more
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Today, Francesca Wade, a true authority on the life and works of the mighty Gertrude Stein, excavates fresh new meaning from Stein's collection of experimental poetry, Tender Buttons. Expect meaningful discussion and a deeper understanding of this…
 

And Midnight Never Come - A Performance

Tuesday 19 August 20:00 - 22:00

And Midnight Never Come - A Performance Find out more
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Queen of Crime, the iconic Val McDermid, is bringing her forensic gaze to bear on one of the theatre's most enduring mysteries - the death of Christopher Marlowe in Deptford in 1593. A forbidden love story, a double-crossing spy story, or Shakespeare's…
 

Emma Healey & Charlotte Runcie: The Sweet Taste of Revenge

Tuesday 19 August 20:15 - 21:15

Emma Healey & Charlotte Runcie: The Sweet Taste of Revenge Find out more
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They say revenge is a dish best served cold, but does it really make us feel better? Is getting our own back on the person who scorned us the best way to get even? Obsession, toxic-love, and power dynamics are at the core of both Sweat by Emma Healey…
 

Javier Cercas: Violence, Lies, and Just Causes

Tuesday 19 August 20:30 - 21:30

Javier Cercas: Violence, Lies, and Just Causes Find out more
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How do we live among a population capable of both the worst atrocities and the profoundest kindness? Daniel Hahn joins one of Spain's most lauded writers, Javier Cercas, to discuss Fortress of Evil, the latest in his ambitious Terra Alta series…
 

Only After Dark: A Night Walk with Dan Richards

Tuesday 19 August 20:30 - 21:30

Only After Dark: A Night Walk with Dan Richards Find out more
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Drawing on the adventures of his recent book Overnight and acclaimed Radio 4 series, Only After Dark, Dan Richards tonight shares small hour stories and twilight wonders as you walk…
 

Chantal Lyons, Sophie Pavelle & Peter Cairns: Landscape, and Beavers, and Boars (Oh, My!)

Wednesday 20 August 10:00 - 11:00

Chantal Lyons, Sophie Pavelle & Peter Cairns: Landscape, and Beavers, and Boars (Oh, My!) Find out more
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Sharing their deep understanding of what we're lucky to have in nature and how to repair the damage done, Wainwright Prize-­shortlisted author of Groundbreakers, Chantal Lyons, To Have or to Hold author Sophie Pavelle, and photographer and rewilding…
 

Spark Exhibition

Wednesday 20 August 10:00 - 21:00

Spark Exhibition Find out more
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Young people from the Alternative School at Spartans Community Foundation are back at the festival for the third year, with their brand-new exhibition, Spark. Our writer in residence Owen Sutcliffe has been working with the young people to spark their…
 

Shared Reading with Open Book

Wednesday 20 August 11:00 - 12:30

Shared Reading with Open Book Find out more
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Join Lead Readers from Open Book, a charity organising shared reading and creative writing groups, for an informal, relaxed reading session. Explore a chapter from a debut book from this year's Festival programme…