Preview: Wakefield Literature Festival

This year's festival is an exciting new collaboration between Wakefield-based arts charity Beam and spoken word organisation A Firm of Poets who present Talking Loud and Saying Summat! '“ a festival which aims to celebrate and develop reading, writing and debate in Wakefield.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Sep 2017, 10:46 BST
Updated 19th Sep 2017, 10:50 BST
HEADLINE POET: John Hegley will be appearing at this year's festival.HEADLINE POET: John Hegley will be appearing at this year's festival.
HEADLINE POET: John Hegley will be appearing at this year's festival.

The festival opens next weekend and will present a dynamic week-long programme with a series of live performances, talks, workshops and readings.

“We are very excited to be working with Beam on the festival this year,” says Ralph Dartford of A Firm of Poets. “We want to create a programme that celebrates the spirit of Wakefield through words, music and debate and to bring a series of high calibre headline acts to Wakefield.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The festival kicks off with Poetry for the People with a day (and night) of poetry and spoken word that is urgent, funny, entertaining. Acts include poets John Hegley, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Genevieve Walsh and Kate Fox. Mark Thomas returns to Wakefield for his show inspired by the Red Shed and there will be a day of events, debates and workshops focussed on mental health and wellbeing and also a day entitled We Need to Talk About Music featuring an exciting programme to discuss music, literature and life.

Wakefield Literature Festival, September 23 to October 1 at venues around Wakefield. For full programme and to book tickets visit www.wakefieldlitfest.org.uk

Related topics:WakefieldMark ThomasPeople