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Broadcasters and authors Clive Myrie and Clare Balding, as well as actor Timothy West, have been unveiled as headliners of this year’s Stratford Literary Festival, taking place 27th to 29th October 2023 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Stratford.
Also in attendance will be “The Sky at Night” presenter and astronomer Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Philippa Gregory, Sir Richard Eyre, Tom Holland and Costa award-winning author Jonathan Coe.
Other events in the line-up include Orange Prize-winning novelist Linda Grant; novelists Jo Baker and Jill Dawson, who will also tutor a workshop for writers; obituarist Ann Wroe; historian Anthony Bale, and festival chair Tim Hubbard talking about his own Secret Gardens book on Cornwall with Victoria Summerley, who tours Secret Gardens of the Cotswolds.
There will also be two workshops on making Christmas garlands and crocheting a Shakespeare character. Outside of the festival dates, on 20th October Sir Michael Morpurgo will bring his new Tales of Shakespeare (HarperCollins Children’s Books) – a retelling of some of the Bard’s most famous works for children – to Holy Trinity Church, and on 12th November Julia Donaldson will bring her show “The Gruffalo, The Giant and The Mermaid” to the Stratford Playhouse.
The Whitbread and BAFTA award-winning novelist Jeanette Winterson will also be appearing in November talking about her new collection of short stories.
Festival director Annie Ashworth said: “This autumn’s line up is really exciting and bigger than ever. We’ve managed to combine comedy with really searching discussion. I am so pleased we have attracted leading names in literature and public comment, broadcasting, film and theatre. Hopefully there will be something for everyone.
Headline sponsors in 2023 continue to be Baillie Gifford, and lead sponsors are Inspired Villages, Pragnells, First Choice Homecare and David Hunt Lighting. The University of Birmingham has recently become the festival’s education partner and Stratford District Council is a festival partner. More on tickets can be found here.