Durham Book Festival
23/10/2009 to 01/11/2009
Venues include Durham Gala Theatre & Durham Town Hall
Tickets available from Gala Theatre, Millenium Place, Durham
DH1 1WA
Tel: 0191 332 4041
www.bookfestival.org.uk
Leading names from the world of literature are bolstering Durham’s bid to become the first UK City of Culture 2013.
Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, comedian Jack Dee and author Kate Mosse are among the headline attractions at Durham Book Festival, an annual celebration of all things literature. Taking over Durham City for a week from October 23, the festival, which is managed and produced by DCA (Durham City Arts) and programmed by New Writing Northwill, for the first time, have a Festival Laureate supported by Durham University.
Former Poet Laureate, Andrew Morton, who retired from the position in March this year, will carry out the role and lead a series of events and workshops both during and after the festival.
The big name line-up features
- Nick Hornby, author of Fever Pitch, who will discuss with journalist Lynn Barber his adaptation of her memoir An Education.
- Comedian Jack Dee will present his hilarious memoir Thanks for Nothing, revealing what made him change from a cheery young fellow to a grumpy middle-aged man
- Kate Mosse, author of best-selling thrillers Labyrinth and Sepulchre, will discuss her new novel.
- Marina Lewycka, author of the hilarious A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian will talk to journalist and author Amanda Craig about immigration and unlikely friendships.
- A unique opportunity to hear the current Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, who will host an evening of poetry by North East women on Friday, October 30 in Durham Town Hall.
“Durham is both a city and a region which celebrates the arts in all its forms, and becoming City of Culture would bring international recognition of that fact,” said Olivia Mantle, projects and marketing officer, New Writing North.
“In relation to its population size, Durham punches wayabove its weight with its cultural offerings,” she said.
Last year, over 4,500 people attended the festival with just over half coming from outside Durham.
This year’s festival, which runs until November 1, also includes:
- A Book Fete on Saturday, October 24 at Dunelm House
- An Afternoon of Ideas on Saturday, October 24
- A nature day for adults and families on Sunday, October 25
- A sports day on Sunday, November 1, at Durham County Cricket Club
Full programme details can be found at www.bookfestival.org.uk
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