Faversham Literary Festival

The third Faversham Literary Festival is taking place from 19 to 23 February 2020 with an exceptional array of brilliant writers coming to talk about the times we are living in at home and abroad – plus plenty of stories, humour, ideas and new perspectives for you to enjoy.

Events will be taking place in a variety of the town’s historic venues: the Old Brewery Store, Guildhall, Alexander Centre, The Limes, and Shepherd Neame Visitor Centre’s 15th-century function room, as well as the Arden Theatre. There’s a packed programme of events from 19 to 23 February, plus writing workshops and local author readings on 15th and 16th February.

As in previous years the programme is diverse and offers something for everyone, featuring a great line-up of well-known authors and local talent. Opening night celebrates Kent cheese and ale in the company of raconteur cheesemonger Ned Palmer. This event is kindly sponsored by Shepherd Neame and will take place in the Old Brewery Store. Closing the festival is internationally acclaimed writer Sarah Perry, whose gripping tale Melmoth confronts how we come to terms with our actions in a conflicted world.

Throughout the weekend there is an abundance of highlights including Melvyn Bragg reimagining one of history’s enduring love stories; liberal helpings of laughter with Jenny Eclair; Canterbury poet laureate Lemn Sissay; Dame Joan Bakewell celebrating the short story; Ken Livingstone’s London; Will Self returning to Faversham to talk about his recent memoir; Stephen Morris from Joy Division/ New Order; and Everything But the Girl singer-songwriter Tracey Thorn.

Nature and politics are on everyone’s minds in the current season and this is reflected in the programme, with Gavin Esler on Brexit; Jack Straw on the Middle East; Sarah Churchwell on the USA and Trump; David Herd and Christy Lefteri on the Syrian refugee crisis; Poets for the Planet; fictions on Chile, Turkey and writing in exile, plus the inspirational Tim Dee on spring and bird migration, as well as Kent nature writers Katherine May, Caroline Crampton, Lara Maiklem and Caroline Greville.

In 2020 Kent is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the death of Charles Dickens, and much-loved children’s author Michael Rosen will be creating a Dickensian stir for all the family with stories, silly poems, funny faces and advice on how important ‘play’ is in all our lives. Plus lots of young fun with Jo Simmons’s My Parents Cancelled My Birthday and local children’s authors Julia Woolf, Heidi Bryant and Nicola Parkhouse.

There’s so much more… crime fiction; cookery; the soul of football; travel writing; Faversham author Peter Williams on Kent’s coalmines and ironworks in the 20th century; plus a special event on mental health with local author Stephen Gillatt in the Abbey Physic Community Garden. There’s an all-day Poetry Hub in The Limes on Saturday 22nd, plus the usual Friday-night Poetry Slam, which is unmissable!

Come and share ideas, laughter and be inspired.

Tickets for all events available at: www.favershamliteraryfestival.org

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