STRATFORD Literary Festival Winter Weekend will now take place online after government announced a second lockdown.
Between November 20 and 25 people will be able to access a programme of events on the festival’s website.
It includes twice-Booker prize winner, Dame Hilary Mantel, talking about her acclaimed Cromwell Trilogy and her latest book of essays, Mantel Pieces; broadcaster and best-selling author, Andrew Marr, in conversation with fellow BBC broadcaster Sophie Raworth about what made Britain the country it is today; Times columnist and Radio 4’s Great Lives presenter, Matthew Parris, looking at how trauma shapes great leaders and innovators, and political commentators Iain Dale and Steve Richards discussing what separates a good Prime Minister from a bad one.
Modern historian and Reith lecturer, Margaret MacMillan, suggests humans are programmed for war, and colonial history specialist, Michael Taylor joins Amelia Gentleman – the journalist who revealed the Windrush scandal – explores Britain’s conflicted relationship with its colonial past.
And the country’s leading impressionist Rory Bremner will explain his craft, and coping in lockdown, while comedian Victoria Wood will be remembered by her biographer, Jasper Rees, and actor Duncan Preston, who starred alongside her in Acorn Antiques and Dinnerladies.
And there will also be events for families, with Horrible Histories illustrator Martin Brown, a collaboration between poet Roger McGough and Stratford-based BAFTA wining illustrator Greg McLeod and storytelling online with Kate Coleman, Stratford’s leading storyteller.
Festival director Annie Ashworth said: “We were so looking forward to welcoming audiences to our live events, but given the uncertainty of these extraordinary times, had plans in place to move our Winter Weekend online if required. We had already sold a number of tickets for people to view the events online and hope very much that people who would have been with us in person will enjoy the events digitally.”
Tickets cost from £5. Visit stratlitfest.co.uk to book or find out more.
