Anniversary edition of city literary festival launched

Those giving talks and readings during the festival, which is set to begin later this month and run throughout October, will include Carol Ann Duffy, Jeremy Paxman, Polly Toynbee, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Jon Ronson, Ian McMillan and Sheffield University’s professor of poetry Simon Armitage.

Yesterday, members of Sheffield Council officially launched Off The Shelf at the city’s Crucible Theatre with readings from poet River Wolton and novelist Martyn Johnson, author of What’s tha up to – Memories of an Attercliffe Bobby.

Music came from up-and-co ming indie band Crookes, while Sheffield-based hip-hop dance crew Rationale also performed an excerpt from In My Shoes, part of Sheffield Theatres’ 40th anniversary celebrations.

A spokesman for Sheffield Council said: “Off the Shelf has developed a reputation for a diverse, imaginative and wide ranging programme and 2011 is no different.

“This year there are more events and the programme includes some of the best and most well known names in literature and the media.”

As well as readings by well-known personalities, there will also be poetry workshops, talks on themes as diverse as foraging for food and the philosophy of running; and classes on subjects such as writing historical fiction.

For a full programme of events visit www.offtheshelf.org.uk